By Heather Madsen,
October may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean the festivities are over. In fact, along with the other holidays that come at the end of the year, Día de los Muertos is just around the corner. If you’re curious about the holiday, or looking for a community to celebrate with, Southern Utah University welcomes you to join their celebration.
Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on the first and second day of November, but in order to accommodate more people, SUU will be hosting their event on November 4th from noon to 6 pm. They have entertainment and activities planned for the whole afternoon and evening, and there’s something for everyone. If you’d like to remember your lost loved ones, you can add their name to the community ofrenda. Suppose you’d like to learn more about the origin of this Latin American holiday and the evolution of altars and ofrendas. In that case, you can attend a lecture at the Hunter Alumni Theater. There will also be storytelling by Spanish Honor Students who will bring to life the holiday’s history through stories. Those who want to participate in the vivid colors and vibrant atmosphere can get their face painted or decorate skull cookies and paper marigolds.
Of course, you can’t forget about the food! It’s tradition to leave the favorite food or drink of deceased family members on their graves, as it’s believed that their spirits are close on the Day of the Dead. There will also be traditional Mexican food available for the living to try. Everyone is welcome to attend and we hope you’ll join us to celebrate Mexican and Latin American culture, as well as your own ancestors at our Día de los Muertos celebration. More information can be found at https://www.suu.edu/suma/dotd/.