Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a traditional Mexican celebration where honoring the dead is a tangible thing presented in the form of an altar.
The day will be celebrated locally from 6-9 p.m. today at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Road.
Participants are invited to bring their past loved ones’ photos or a memento, like favorite foods or drinks, flowers, candies or candles, to place on a remembrance altar.
The event also will include a full meal of traditional Mexican foods, mariachi and folkloric music.
Kit Carlson, the church’s pastor, said the idea for the event came from four parishioners who traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico last year during the Day of the Dead celebration.
“We want to let people know we’re a warm, welcoming, diverse and multicultural church,” she said.
Youth of the church are making sugar skulls, paper flowers and colorful paper decorations to adorn the altar.
Day of the Dead is celebrated Nov. 1, or All Saints’ Day, and Nov. 2, or All Souls’ Day.
Leslie Galvez, secretary for the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions, or OCAT, said people usually make an altar on All Saints’ Day for babies who have died.
The babies, she said, are thought of as saints and come out to play with their favorite toys or eat the food people leave on the altar for them.
Diane Hernandez-Wojda, office manager for OCAT, said she would compare Day of the Dead to the American tradition of having a memorial after someone has died.
“In a different culture, we just celebrate in a different way,” she said.
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