photo via the Discover Los Angeles
By Stephanie Ruelas
The Ministry en lo Cotidiano at Dominican University is putting together a few Dia de los Muertos events that all students can participate in.
The question is: how many truly care about the holiday?
Dia de los Muertos is celebrated all throughout Latin America. However, it is mostly associated with Mexico where the traditions first began.
I spoke with a sophomore student and intern at DU’s Ministry en lo Cotidiano program, Linda Nevarez, who has been heavily involved in the planning process. Her role as an intern is to create events for the Latinx community at DU, which is about 50% of the population at the university.
“This year’s altar theme might be based on the four elements of life; that is earth, air, water and fire,” said Nevarez. Last year’s theme was Arbol de la Vida or Tree of Life. It was dedicated to the Pittsburgh shooting victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue. There is a similarity in ideas of life.
When asked about what Dia de los Muertos means for her, Nevarez shared, “It’s a big representation of my culture. A remembrance and a statement of past, present and future.”
Nevarez feels that it is important to have the altar and ofrenda displayed at DU because it will make our LatinX students feel at home by reminding them of the altars that they put up with their families back home.
However, when I spoke with Lissa Barragan, a first year student at DU from Michoacan, about what the holiday means for her, she seemed indifferent about the festivities. “My family doesn’t celebrate the holiday at home,” she said. “My mom just sends money to Mexico to so that my family there can put together the altar and the ofrendas.”
If students do wish to participate, they may make a reservation for $5 to attend the Recipe Box Dinner happening Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Shaffer Silveri Atrium in the Parmer Hall Building. The Ministry and the Nutrition staff at DU are working together to create a three-course, Mexican themed meal. The dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Students may also attend an All Saints Day Mass at Rosary Chapel Friday, Nov. 1 at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Blessing of the Ofrenda at 12:00 p.m. on the second floor of Lewis Alcove.
The ministry is beginning preparations for building days. They will start setting up altars Oct. 29-31, the main one in Lewis and a smaller one in Parmer.
Students can feel free to stop by the Ministry office at any time leading up to Dia de los Muertos. They can also stop by the altar locations during building days to help out with the setup and decorations. Students may also bring photographs of their ancestors if they wish to have them up on the altar as well. The ministry will make sure that every student gets their beloved photograph back when the altar comes down.
It is important for Nevarez to emphasize that although Dia de los Muertos is a LatinX celebration, this is a DU community project and all students of different cultures are welcome to participate in the festivities.
