October Spiritual Message: El Día de Muertos
El Día de Muertos is a special occasion in which many Latin American countries remember and honor their deceased loved ones every year from October 31 to November 2.
The syncretism and blending of indigenous traditions (náhuatl, maya, pur’hépecha, totonaca) and Catholicism is depicted through colorfully decorated altars or ofrendas, where we can find the food that the deceased liked (as tamales, pan de muerto or bread of the dead), the objects to which the person was attached (soccer ball, guitars, clothing), and even the drinks they used to enjoy!
Through music, good talk, blessings, and prayers, families around Latin America (and also in the U.S.) gather in cemeteries and celebrate the life of their ancestors with love, respect, and happiness!
The Loyola community will build our own ofrenda in the One Loyola room October 30 through November 3 including objects added by students, faculty, and staff to honor their deceased loved ones.
