DAY OF THE DEAD

By: Karla Castaneda

Every first and second of November, Mexico commemorates all those loved ones who are no longer physically with us but that will always remain in our memories and in our hearts. Thanks to the diversity that exists at Fresno State the Hispanic community can share this tradition called “The Day of the Dead,” giving students and staff the opportunity to celebrate those who are gone but will never be forgotten.

The tradition is to create an altar/offering with a picture of those who are being remembered. The picture is decorated with colorful “papel picado” which is tissue paper with cut-out shapes, with Mexican marigold flowers and all the special things that the loved one liked; like food,drinks, candies, and bread. 

The celebration focuses on the family, but many celebrate friends, people they knew, pets or even famous people.

“We are doing this to remember our “brother” Luis Palma who passed away recently back in August. Is a very unfortunate thing that happened. We always try to remember, you know whether be just kind of the things he does. Remember the little sayings he has you know. There is always a part of us that has Luis in it and you know he is a really good guy,” Christopher Gonzalez said.

“I decided to focus on my tio (uncle), he was very encouraging, he taught me to be strong in everything that I do so he was basically kind of like my rock in do it all and has been like five years since he passed I feel like that being able to remember him on this specific day you kind of feel that you are with them,” Itsaly Miranda said.

While it is important to never forget those who are no longer with us, but is also important to celebrate the lives of those we love every single day while they are alive. We never know when is going to be that day that we can only celebrate their memory.