Last week, the DU community joined together to celebrate Dia de los Muertos to honor departed loved ones. The holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and across the world from Nov. 1-2. This year’s Dia de los Muertos celebrations were student-led by the Latine Student Association (LSA) with support from the Native Student Alliance (NSA) and in collaboration with the Cultural Center. 

Tamales and agua de horchata awaited attendees. Festivities included catrina face paint, a performance by Grupo Huitzilopochtli, an indigenous dancing group dedicated to teaching and honoring their Aztec culture, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Viajeros de Denver, as well as a low-stimulation room that played Coco. The celebration took place at the Community Ofrenda (altar) where attendees were told the importance of the holiday and were able to honor and remember their loved ones. 

The event combined cultural traditions and history. A slideshow played in the background that mentioned the different takes on tradition and how indigenous tribes celebrate. The holiday’s origins trace back to the Aztecs where Dia de los Muertos was celebrated not just for two days but an entire month beginning in July and ending in August. However, after Spain invaded Mexico, Spanish priests moved the holiday to coincide with the Christian holiday, All Hallows Eve (Dia de todos Santos). This resulted in the holiday being celebrated for two days at the beginning of November. 

Third-year environmental science major Uriel Perez explained the importance of events like these, which showcase the diverse cultures that make up the DU population.

“Events like this provide a safe space for people who are of indigenous culture but also Latine culture. It’s important to have a space for all of us to get together and feel like a community, especially at a predominantly white institution. Having events like this helps with outreach and better support students,” Perez said. 

Students, faculty and families were in high spirits at the event, enjoying the indigenous representation by Grupo Huitzilopochtli and the musical performance by the mariachi. It was a day of remembrance but also a day of representation and celebration.