The Latinos United Club and the International and Cultural Programs Office held different events and activities for students at Wayne State College to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead.
The International and Cultural Programs office held a Talavera Tribute event on Oct. 27, where students create and decorate their one Talavera-inspired art and make a picture frame for Dia de los Muertos.
The Latinos United Club had a Dia de los Muertos movie night on Nov. 3, where they watched “The Book of Life”. The event also included a popcorn station, a bracelet making station and a raffle for prizes.
Dia de los Muertos is a multi-day holiday that is held the first two days of November, when people celebrate and honor their loved ones who have passed away.
“I think it is an important celebration not only because of the cultural significance of this holiday, but also to celebrate those that have left us,” Yasmin Beltran, president of the Latinos United Club, said. “The loss of our loved ones is sad, but it is also important to celebrate the life they had and the memories we have with them.”
“To me, the Day of the Dead is a beautiful reminder that love doesn’t end when someone passes away. It’s a time to celebrate their life, share their stories, and keep their spirit alive through memories and traditions,” Adeline Riedmann, a human services major, said. “I think it’s comforting to know that even though they’re gone, we can still feel their presence and honor the impact they had on us. My favorite part is how it brings people together.”
People celebrate this day by building ofrendas. These ofrendas are altars that are decorated with photos, personal items, food, flowers, candles, etc. The main purpose of these ofrendas is to welcome the spirits of loved ones who have passed.
Elizabeth Lara-Arroyo, the International and Cultural Programs Coordinator, said in Mexico people are dedicated to honoring their loved ones.
“They have an arch covered in flowers, they have a picture frame of their loved ones, items of their loved ones,” Lara-Arroyo said. “People take time out of their days to set up the ofrenda for their loved ones, and some people actually just stay there or they go visit every day, but I think it is a beautiful thing how they do this.”
The International and Cultural Programs Office had sent out an email to all students, faculty and staff inviting them to honor their loved ones on an ofrenda in the multicultural lounge where they could share a picture of a loved one who has passed to be part of the ofrenda.
“My ofrenda is made up of pictures of many pets and family members from my friends’ group. I made it with things I had, so while not super traditional, I wanted to make sure to incorporate the beautiful colors and marigolds,” Riedmann said. “It’s simple, but I believe no matter what your ofrenda includes, our loved ones enjoy the opportunity to visit.”
“My contributions to the ofrenda were my childhood dog, who passed away at the beginning of October, and my best friend’s cat, who passed during the summer,” an anonymous student said. “Both of these losses were hard for the two of us, so upon hearing that Wayne State had an ofrenda to honor our beautiful pets, I knew I had to take it.”
