Hispanic serving institute Mi Casa, Mi Universidad is displaying an ofrenda, a ceremonial offering to the dead, on the first floor of the Academic Services building in honor of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that celebrates death by ceremonial remembrance rather than mourning. It is a Mexican cultural tradition to celebrate by setting up offerings to the dead, such as candles, pictures, elaborately decorated skulls, yellow flowers, which symbolize death, and sentimental items that belonged to the deceased. The souls of the dead are said to visit the ofrendas and bask in the aromas of the food, which nourish their soul.
Students stopped by the colorful ofrenda to observe what Day of the Dead meant to the Mexican culture. Some students had never heard of the celebration, while others connected with the celebration from their own cultures.
“I think it is important to celebrate in a positive way because we should remember the life that our loved ones had,” Alma Reis, a sophomore communications major, said.
The celebration begins at midnight then continues until Thursday. The first day celebrated is Dia de los Santos Inocentes, Day of the Innocent Souls, which is dedicated to the death of the young. The second day is Dia de los Adultos, Day of the Adults, which is dedicated to the death of the adults. The final day of the celebration is Dia de todas las Almas, Day of all Souls, which is dedicated to all deaths.
The ofrenda was set up and organized by Gloria Inunza-Franco, HSI Project Director, and Patricia Amezcua, a Spanish instructor at Cal State Long Beach.
Inunza-Franco said the ofrenda was set up Tuesday and will be on display until the celebration ends.
Amezcua offered her Spanish class students the opportunity to participate in this celebration by decorating their own skulls to be put on display at the ofrenda.
She said the skulls are meant to be elaborate and fancy to give death a positive appearance because it is a natural part of life. She added that we all have to face it one day, so we should embrace it instead of fearing it.
“As long as you remember the dead, they stay alive,” Amezcua said. “On Halloween, skulls are spooky, but for the Dia de los Muertos, it represents a happy way of honoring the dead.”
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