Dia de los Muertos gathers community at Juan Diego

Friday, Oct. 30, 2015

DRAPER — The Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico Nov. 1-2, is the focus of an exhibition at Juan Diego Catholic High School under the direction of Natalie Scenters-Zapico, an English and theology teacher who is originally from El Paso, Texas, where setting up altar as part of the Day of the Dead celebration is a very big tradition.

Last year, JDCHS Principal Galey Colosimo returned from New Mexico with some “catrinas,” the image of a “dapper skeleton” or “elegant skull” that depicts a female skeleton dressed only in a hat befitting an upper- class European of the 19th-century. Catrinas are common decorations during the Day of the Dead, so those that Colosimo brought back were displayed last year at the school. 

Last year’s altar was set up very quickly, Scenters-Zapico said; with that in mind, this year’s altar was planned in advance, and the results have been gratifying.

“Because I work with the theology department, we were able to start talking about the connections between Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and All Saints/All Souls Day with the students,” said Scenters-Zapico, adding that members of the school’s Spanish department also participating creating the “papel picado” clothes and “mache” flowers for the altar. 

Papel picado is a decorative craft made out of paper cut into elaborate designs.

The students were asked to participate by bringing pictures of a relative or a loved one who had died; this also is a common tradition for a family’s Day of the Dead altar.

“We also told them that they could bring items of food honoring the loved one that they were honoring,” said Scenters-Zapico.

Having students bring pictures for the altar has made it  “a little more different than a traditional altar that you would have at home because we are having more like a community altar. … It feels a bit more inclusive and people can start a dialogue about it,” she said.

Dia de Muertos coincides with the Catholic feasts of All Souls and All Saints; when Catholicism was brought to Mexico in the 16th century, the indigenous people combined the faith’s feasts with their own ancient beliefs of honoring deceased loved ones.

At JDCHS, when the Day of the Dead altar was set up, “People were very curious about it, wanting to know more about how to participate in a respectful way … Being able to connect it to our Catholic values here [at Juan Diego] and being able to connect it to  All Souls’ Day and talking about the mestizaje (cultural mixing) has been really good,” said Scenters-Zapico

Day of the Dead altars are usually arranged on a table top that is used exclusively for that purpose. Altars have at least two tiers, sometimes more. The table is draped with cloth, or sometimes paper or plastic. An arch made of marigolds is often erected over top of the altar.

Juan Diego students will have a special prayer service around the altar on Nov. 2; on Nov. 16  they will take the pictures that had been displayed in the Day of the Dead altar to a Mass that will be celebrated in honor of the feasts of All Souls and All Saints.

“We have the tradition that the students can bring a picture of someone that passed away and was meaningful in their lives to the Mass, so now they can take the pictures that are already at the altar. … I am really happy with all the support that we have had, and what great experience for the students to have to open that dialogue and talk about it,” said Scenters-Zapico.

At JDCHS, Scenters-Zapico has enriched the school by incorporating Hispanic traditions and culture into the environment, said Molly Dumas, the school’s public information officer.