Making and decorating sugar skulls, painting their faces with the traditional catrina and catrín design, and creating altars in honor of their deceased loved ones were some of the ways members of the campus community celebrated Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), one of the most popular holidays celebrated in Latin America and among Latinx communities in the U.S.
The main community celebration took place on the Upper Quad where students, faculty, staff, and friends enjoyed a cuisine of traditional Latinx dishes. Aztec dancers performed during the luncheon wearing traditional native regalia, including large colorful feathers, head dresses, and chachayotes—ankle rattles that make noise when dancing.
Other activities took place during the week, including the screening of Coco in Spanish and Día de las Muertas, a short documentary featuring local women activists living in the city of Juarez, Mexico, and explains the cultural significance of this holiday.
The events were sponsored by MECha, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Ortiz Programs, Whittier Scholars Program, the Sociology Department, the Modern Languages and Literature Department, and ASWC.
