See Dia de los Muertos display at IU Kokomo
November 2, 2006
KOKOMO, Ind.—Flowers, candles, and small plastic skulls filled with candy adorn an altar display set up by Indiana University Kokomo students commemorating Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Located in the Main Building’s Humanities Hallway, next to Room 150, the colorful display will remain up through November 14 for public viewing.
Mexico and some other Latin American countries observe the Day of the Dead on November 1 or November 2, coinciding with the Catholic feasts of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Although its skeleton motifs seem eerie, the day is meant to honor and celebrate the memory of deceased loved ones. Many Hispanics have brought the tradition with them to the United States.
Lecturer in Spanish J.R. Pico offered this background information about the Day of the Dead, written by Queta Palestino for the Mexico Child Link Web site, www.mexico-child-link.org:
“[Mexico’s] Indian cultural roots have survived to the present day and have
combined with the Christian tradition, which we inherited from the Spanish
Conquistadores. . . . The combination of these two cultures has shaped the modern Mexican’s attitude towards death. We learn resignation through adversity and hardship, and our calmness gives us humor and defiance in the face of death itself. At the same time we venerate the memory of the dead and honor their souls. The tradition of making offerings in recognition of loved ones who have died dates back to 3,500 BC. For the Mesoamerican people, . . . life and death are part of the same continuum. The Aztec, Toltec, and Mayan peoples used to bury their dead in earthenware pots full of food, beaded necklaces, and golden jewelry so they would have everything they needed for their next life.”
Constructed by IU Kokomo students, this Day of the Dead altar can be seen in the Main Building through November 14.
|
