Celebrating the dead and Mexican culture

Intermountain Catholic

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Day of the Dead altars traditionally honor family members and friends. IC photos/Laura Vallejo

THANKSGIVING POINT – Like many of her generation of Mexican-Americans in Utah, Armita Juarez found herself lacking a connection with her heritage.

When she was younger, the annual Mexican holiday of the "Day of the Dead" kept her captivated with its brilliant colors, butterflies, flowers, skulls, cut paper, humor and food.

"It was a holiday I used to enjoy a lot because it emphasized the mix between the indigenous and the Catholic holidays," said Juarez.

Despite that, growing up in Utah she felt that she was missing part of her heritage, culture and history.

But this year she had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural celebration of the Day of the Dead at Thanksgiving Point Nov. 1-2.

"When I heard about this event, I got goose bumps," said Juarez, a parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in West Valley.

Juarez immediately called to ask for more information about the event and realized that she could finally fulfill her long-time desire to celebrate with an altar for her ancestors.

This celebration is a way to "honor those who have gone before us," said Juarez. "It’s about life and the celebration of life, not just about death."

The festival at Thanksgiving Point included mariachi bands, children’s crafts, music and food, as well as the altar displays that are traditionally part of the Day of the Dead.

Like Juarez, Marina Benitez, an Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioner, also celebrated this festivity, accompanied by her two daughters.

On Nov. 2, Benitez attended the celebration at Rose Park Library, in which altar displays, various performances, face painting, skulls made of sugar, games and activities attracted children and adults alike.

"It’s awesome, and everything here is free," said Benitez while her daughter’s face was being painted by a volunteer.

"This is the second year that we have come here, and my daughters and I really enjoyed it. I have always wanted to keep my traditions alive in them and this is a very good way of doing it," said Benitez.

Americans sometimes confuse the Day of the Dead with Halloween, which precedes the Mexican holiday on the calendar.

"The two celebrations have little in common besides a few skeletons and Halloween’s distant religious connection," Benitez said.

Halloween and the Day of the Dead do take place within a few days of each other. Halloween is celebrated on Oct. 31. Its origins are the Gaelic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and a time to store food supplies for the cold months ahead. It was thought of as a time when the spirits could more easily enter the human world, and the souls of the dead would return to their homes. To ward off harmful spirits, frightening costumes and masks could be worn, and the jack-o’-lantern was a common symbol.

By contrast, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on Nov. 2, the same day as All Souls Day on the Catholic Church calendar. Its origins are the Aztec festival dedicated to goddess Mictecacihuatl, Lady of the Dead. The festival celebrates the life and death of ancestors, friends and family, and encourages visits from the spirits of those who have died.

The skull is a common symbol of the Day of the Dead. Many people who celebrate the festivity will place cheerful decorations on the grave sites of family and friends, or create home altars with flowers and traditional food.