Celebrate Dia de Muertos in Seattle
In Mexico, Halloween is celebrated with Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, an extended holiday that also covers November 1st (All Saints Day) and November 2nd (All Souls Day). While celebrations vary from area to area, all observances are steeped in tradition and rich with culture.
The observance of Day of the Dead goes back to pre-Hispanic Mexico, back to the time of the Aztecs, Mayans and other indigenous peoples in Mexico. It was believed that the souls of the deceased return annually to visit living relatives, to eat and drink with them. It was necessary, then, to have big festivals and celebrations to welcome back the dearly departed.
Today the Day of the Dead celebrations are centered around the belief that our loved ones to ever truly die, but are kept alive by our memories. Families gather to make altars decorated with flowers, candles, photographs, small trinkets, and the favorite foods and beverages of the deceased.
It is also common to see skulls, or dancing skeletons as part of the decorations. Children exchange sugar skulls, decorated with icing for hair and names. Designs can become quite elaborate. These sweets represent gifts for the young souls of departed children, who will return to earth in the late afternoon of October 31st.
Another Day of the Dead tradition is Pan de Muertos, or bread of the dead. Families gather in remembrance of their loved ones, and share in the bread as a sign of family and love. You’ll find a recipe for pan de muertos here. Another popular treat is Calabaza en Tacha, or candied pumpkin, made with cinnamon and brown sugar.
Day of the Dead observances are festive, and full of merriment. They are a time for love, and family, and celebration.
If you’d like to experience a local Dia de Muertos celebration, you can attend local events at the Seattle Center. There will be the traditional altars, along with music, dancing, art exhibit, and a procession. A schedule of events and times can be found here.
Location: Center House, Seattle Center Campus
Dates & Times: October 27-28th. Saturday noon – 8 pm, Sunday noon – 6 pm.
Admission: Free
Photo credit: Skeleton band (flickr) and dancing skeletons (flickr)
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3 Comments
A little drive down I-5, we’ve got some great Dia de los Muertos happenings in Tacoma, including a traditional procession down 6th Avenue on November 2nd. All are welcome to meet at Masa restaurant on 6th and Pine for a 45 minute procession, which will loop back to the restaurant for refreshments afterward.
The Tacoma Art Museum is also holding a celebration on November 4th, from 12-5 pm. Admission is free.
For more information on both celebrations, check out the Tacoma Art Museum website:
http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/page.asp?view=6358
I enjoyed reading this post and nice to see it is celebrated in the U.S. as well. I had the good fortune to be in Oaxaca, Mexico for Day of the Dead 2 years ago and will in Mexico next week to experience it in another part of the country.
Jen: Thankls for the updated info about Dia de Muertos in Tacoma. I’ll check them out!
Wendy: Last year, I was in Oaxaca during part of the Dia de Muertos celebrations. Even at the hotel, there were elaborate altars and displays. Unfortunately, I’ll miss it this year.