Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd. Marks a time for families and communities to come together to honor loved ones who have passed away. People celebrate this popular holiday with colorful ofrendas, “alters” decorated with marigold flowers, candles, and offerings for the deceased. Many believe that during this time, the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living to be with their loved ones. Día de los Muertos is a unique celebration that has become increasingly popular around the world with many people embracing its cultural significance and traditions.
Sierra Vista High School takes part in celebrating Dia de los Muertos with its students creating alters and incorporating the holiday into their curriculum. Hispanic/Latino Student Union has helped encourage students to participate in various activities, such as creating ofrendas for their loved ones and learning about the significance of celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Creating an ofrenda for the school allows students and teachers to incorporate their own lost loved ones by displaying their pictures in the ofrenda. The president of HLSU, Jen Morras, shares, “The idea behind the Ofrenda was to be able to celebrate those we have lost during Dia de Los Muertos, and we took one meeting day to plan it all and get everyone’s ideas so everyone has an opinion!”
Many Spanish teachers this year taught a brief lesson on the history of Dia de los Muertos and its cultural significance. On the day of the holiday, many spent the class watching the Disney movie CoCo to get a visual representation of how the holiday can be celebrated. Students as well took the time this year to celebrate with their families and friends. Myleen Gomez-Peralta shares, “Some traditions my family participates in are putting out marigolds, food, drinks, and pictures of past loved ones. We also like to enjoy pan de muertos, a special type of bread made during Dia de los Muertos. I made the ofrenda dedicated to my grandma and my water lizard.”
Día de los Muertos is a beautiful and meaningful way to honor the lives of those who have come before us, and schools play a major role in encouraging students to participate in such a meaningful holiday.
