At Nuestra Voz, 'Dia de los Muertos' Celebrates Life by Death

At the Springs Village residents celebrate Dia de los Muertos, known in English as 'Day of the Dead,' with a series of vibrant alters: remembering family members through varied objects – a favorite pair of trousers is set out in memory of an older man, toy cars flank the photograph of a young boy. 

But the real difficulty in celebrating this Mexican celebration of death is creating unity out of variation: how to celebrate a national holiday amongst a group of Mexican immigrants with widely different religious and cultural backgrounds, who are as likely to hail from Jalisco as Guanajuato. 

"All of the elements are the same, but combined with the traditional religions – some states even with a different ethnicity – [the holiday is] always slightly different," said Gabriel Sánchez-Navarro, associate director at Nuestra Voz, a Latino cultural and community group, which is organizing the celebration.

The solution: individual alters celebrating a different nationalities – including Jalisco, Chihuahua, Michoacein and Guanajuato – each built by a different family.

Nuestra Voz also tries to emphasize the common symbols used to remember the dead during the holiday. Each alter is adorned with candles, which guide the dead home to their families and their loved ones favorite food and drink for sustenance. (Often maize and beans are used, symbolizing the simple sustenance of life.)

Though the holiday may seem macabre by American traditions, Dia de los Muertos is a joyful occation in Mexico – a time to celebrate and remember the lives of the deceased. The tradition is derived from the Aztec and Catholic beliefs in a literal life after death; during the holiday the dead walk the earth to join the living.

For families who have suffered a devastating loss, the chance to rejoin their loved ones, if only for a moment, is a gift. "More than a cultural expression it's a way to cure the sorrow," said Sánchez-Navarro.

For example, Sánchez-Navarro recalls, one of this year's participants fell into a deep depression after her daughter, a young adult, was brutally stabbed several years ago.  But building an alter – and sorting through a lifetime of photographs, mementoes and memories – has helped her to come to terms with her daughter's death by remembering her life. "It's a healing time for some of these families," he said.

But for Lyzzeth Torres, 12, the best part of the holiday is the food: her family celebrates at home with a traditional feast of tamales and atole, a dish made of cornmeal.

Torres, who stopped in to the alter exhibit on opening day with her mom, says she often feels sad during the holiday, especially after the loss of a favorite aunt.

"She died in Mexico and I only got to meet her once," she said. "It kind of feels good to remember, but for me I feel both happy and sad, because I do miss her."

Beyond remembering the dead, the holiday forces families to think about the brevity of life. To remind celebrants that life is temporary, the seasons are emphasized. Marigolds, which bloom in Mexico in November, represented the sun rays for the Aztecs and represent the changing seasons during the holiday. As do Monnarch butterflies, which migrate to Mexico in the autumn, believed to carry sprits of the dead.

Sánchez-Navarro sums it up simply.

"You are here for a very short moment, you need to accomplish your mission during your life – quick, quick," he said.

Nuestra Voz will display the Dia de los Muertos alters through Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Springs Village, 200 Fuente Lane. The space is open from 9am - 7 pm. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Nuestra Voz will play Dia de los Muertos documentaries, in Spanish and English, from 5pm-7pm. Community members will bring a traditional dish to the 'ofrenda,' on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 5pm-7pm. Members of the public are welcome at all events.