Decorative sugar skulls, mariachi, tamales, pan dulce, and colorful displays that would make a rainbow jealous, ‘tis the season of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in Chico.
The celebration kicked off at noon yesterday at the Barn in Meriam Park, with onlookers enjoying booths, food and live music to welcome the spirits of those loved ones who’ve passed.
Cesar Alfaro, board member with the North State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that put on the event with Divine Sundays Market said said the intimate family tradition helps families honor those lost.
“It's a day to celebrate our past, the people that have gone before us, once a year,” Alfaro said. “In Latin America, they celebrate on Nov. 2 el Dia De Los Muertos. Obviously, we're remembering them every single day, but this is the one special day that we remember them for what they did.”
Often mistaken as a Mexican Halloween, the origins of the holiday date back to pre-colonial Mexico. The celebration honors and remembers los antepasados, or ancestors, with the belief that the souls of dead loved ones return to their families once a year to reunite.
Celebrants make ofrendas, or offerings, for the spirits of loved ones filled with photographs, lighted candles, sweet treats and flowers, which are placed at the gravesite or on altars at home.
At Sunday’s event, a community altar was provided near the venue's entrance that encouraged visitors to honor their loved ones by contributing mementos.
Marigold flowers lined the altar as photographs, food and unique offerings memorialized each loved one's presence.
“We put any item that they enjoyed while they were living,” Alfaro said, “Whether it was a brand, whether it was a piece of cake, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, fruit, any of their favorite items.”
Nearby the sound of trumpets and guitar strings hit the air with Mariachi Mixteco de Chico taking center stage to play various classics. From Pedro Infante's "Cielito Lindo," to Rocio Durcal's "Amor Eterno," both are often played by mariachis at funerals as families pay their final respects to those they love.
The festival was also an opportunity for vendors. Hundreds of attendees enjoyed art, food, face painting, live music and the sheer joy of conversations with those celebrating loved ones who are no longer with us.
One of the vendors at the event was Newton-Bracewell Funeral Home. Pre-arrangement Specialist Christina Clerici explained how the holiday highlights the importance of sharing grief with others.
“I met a younger woman who lost her daughter, three years ago, just talking about her daughter brought tears to her eyes, but she wasn't alone. We were here with her. And those are the things that make a difference,” Clerici said.
The emphasis of Dia De Los Muertos is on community. It's a healing process for all who attend in the sense that as your loved ones continue their journey in search of solace, sharing their memories and legacy will help you transition to your next phase.
“Many families have lost someone that they love,” Clerici said. “And it's a way to remember them, with others, together with them.”
Dia De Los Muertos has evolved globally into a holiday recognized far beyond the borders of Mexico. Its growth and expansion continue to spread worldwide one ofrenda at a time.
