Dia de los Muertos

The University of Idaho Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration is a traditional Mexican holiday, which is recognized on November 1& 2.  The holiday dates back several centuries and is celebrated over numerous days in Mexico and honors one’s ancestors and loved ones that are deceased.  Indigenous people believed that souls did not die, that they continued living in Mictlán, a special place to rest. In this place, the spirits rest until the day they could return to their homes to visit their relatives. Before the Spaniards arrived, they celebrated the return of the souls between the months of July and August.   Once arrived, the Spaniards changed the festivities to November 2nd to coincide with All Souls’ Day of the Catholic Church.

Presently, two celebrations honoring the memory of loved ones who have died take place: On November 1st, the souls of the children are honored with special designs in the altars, using color white on flowers and candles. On November 2nd the souls of the adults are remembered with a variety of rituals, according to the different states of the Mexican republic.

Students and community members can create group altars, individual altars, and write Calavaras.  The altars will be displayed on campus to educate the University of Idaho community of this Mexican tradition and to honor those represented by the altars.

Contests:

Altar Contests: Making a Day of the Dead altar can be a way for you to honor the life of someone who was important to you, or remember your ancestors. There are not strict rules about making an altar. Be creative and make something that looks attractive and is meaningful to you as you remember and honor lost loved ones. Altar registration forms can be obtained by emailing Alysha Van Zante at vanz3122@vandals.uidaho.edu or OMA at oma@uidaho.edu.  Altar Registration forms need to be turned in Friday, October 19, 2012 to Administration Building room314.

Download Registration Form Here

Calaveras Contest: The word calavera, Spanish for "skull" are short poems created during the “Day of the dead” celebration. Calaveras are festive, satirical poems in the form of an epigram criticizing well-known individuals who are very much alive. The poems describe how the person died and what his or her afterlife will be like. Calaveras are also used to describe a political or social event.   For example, someone can write a Calavera honoring a popular singer, the iPad, a Mexican muralist or a writer: the possibilities are endless.  Deadline to submit your Calaveras is Tuesday, October19 contact Dr. Lori Celaya lcelaya@uidaho.edu

Join us:

Date: October 30, 2013
Time: 12:30 pm- 11:00 pm
Location: SUB Ballroom 
Description:

• 12:30-3:30 pm set up altars in SUB Ballroom
• TBA Dinner at St. Augustine’s Dinning Hall-across from the Student Union Building (Sponsored by Multicultural Greek Council)
• 5:00-7:00 pm Mingling, viewing of altars SUB Ballroom
• 7:00-8:00 pm Welcome, presentation on Dia de los Muertos, Play: “La Llorona,” reading of the top Calaveras, dance performances, awarding of the top group and individual altars and closing, SUB Ballroom
• 8:00-11:00pm Dia de los Muertos Dance, SUB Ballroom