Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s annual show is four weeks away! (Reminder: Get your tickets today!) The theme of our performance this year is Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. It is a Mexican celebration I have not been very familiar with until recently. Oh sure, I grew up hearing about it, but never looked into the traditions or history behind the festivities that coincide with the Catholic Church’s Feasts of All Saints (Nov. 1) and All Souls (Nov. 2).
While some may see this celebration of relationships between the living and the dead as a bit morbid, honoring and remembering those who have died is a common practice in many cultures. Leaving flowers at a grave site is a perfect example. Dia de los Muertos is unique due to its collective and public traditions of building alters, cleaning and decorating graves sites with flowers, making processions, holding vigils, and leaving offerings such as food, water, candles, etc.
Over the next four weeks, I will be sharing information about Dia de los Muertos for the company’s social media campaign. I’ve decided to post my discoveries here as well to help prepare my regular readers for what they will see at the show on November 3rd and 4th. (Because every one of you is all doing everything in your power to be there, right? *wink, wink*)
Stay tuned for more info about the symbols and traditions of Dia de los Muertos!
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Photo of Sandra c/o Calpulli Mexican Dance Company
Fun! My baptismal day is Nov. 2, so I’m excited to learn more about a very relevant celebration!
Oooo… good to know. I’ll just make a little note of that in my calendar… ;)
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