Keeping in line with the Mexican tradition of celebrating life after death, members of the university and community will observe Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead, with several events this week.
The Dia de los Muertos celebration stems from the ancient pre-Christian belief that the dead could visit earth on one day during the year according to Bess Williamson, adjunct professor of Spanish.
Williamson said people all over the world honor this basic idea with holidays such as Halloween, All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day, but the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos is different.
“Dia de los Muertos [in this part of the word] is a day when families remember their dead,” Williamson said.
She said that families traditionally visit their deceased relatives in the graveyard, eat Pan de Muertos, a sweet bread, and keep shrines in honor of passed loves ones with pictures, food and objects.
“They are quite artistic,” Williamson said of the shrines.
Although Dia de los Muetros is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1, members of the university will commemorate today with events all week.
Williamson said she will be serving Pan de Muertos in the Evans Complex today and tomorrow. She will also be displaying clay and wooden skeleton she has collected over the years.
The Office of Multicultural and International Student Services will celebrate the day of the dead on Friday, Oct. 30, in the LSC Mall Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Stardust Room teamed up with students from the university to host a Dia de los Muertos bash on Saturday with seven bands.
The first five bands – We Lived in The Sky, Newport, Dance On Fire, From Guts To Glory and Betterluck-will start to play at 6 p.m. in the Old Town Theater.
The Last Great Assault and Falling North will play at 11 p.m. at the Stardust Room, which is 21 and up.
Amanda Stephens, one of the organizers of the event, said the bash also benefits the To Write Love on Her Arms movement. She said there will be an informational booth during the show.