Western Oregon Journal

With Halloween winding down and Thanksgiving not far away, the holidays are certainly on everyone's minds. While Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are most likely written in all of our date books already, what about the other celebrations that occur during the holiday season? Many Western students celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Perhaps the name is somewhat familiar, but what is it actually about, and why is it celebrated? The holiday is often confused with Halloween, however this is hardly the case.

Celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, this Holiday, native to Mexico, is a celebration of the dead. Relatives gather together to remember and honor those who have passed away. To remember the dead, the living family members will prepare food that the deceased favored in life, and they will also play their favorite music. Traditional wooden skull masks, calacas, are worn and placed on altars (constructed by family members for the holiday celebrations) in honor of the dead as well.

The Aztecs of Mexico originally practiced Dia de los Muertos. In its glory days, the celebration lasted an entire month, and the death goddess, Mictecacihuatl, was a focal point of the festivities. When the Spanish conquistadores "discovered" the Aztecs, they did not take kindly to the native celebration. While they were not able to erase the celebration entirely, they moved it so it could coincide with the Christian All Saints Day.

Today, this time of remembrance is celebrated by many families in the United States. People get together and dance, eat, sing and share memories of those who have passed. Here at Western, students also pay tribute to the celebration. Oct. 31 through Nov. 4, there will be an altar display in the Oregon Room of the Werner Center. There will also be a presentation by Armando Morales in the Oregon Room at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3, where pan dulce and Mexican hot chocolate will be served to those attending. Everything is free and open to anyone who would like to come, so stop by to find out more about the holiday, and learn from those who celebrate it.

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