Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated annually on November 1 – November 2. While the celebration may not have looked the same, rituals of honoring the dead date back thousands of years to the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec peoples. With the arrival of the Spanish, the ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with the Spanish holidays of All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day. Not to be confused with Halloween, Día de los Muertos celebrates the belief that for a day, the separation of the spirit world and the real word opens to allow the souls of the dead to return and celebrate with their loved ones. Ofrendas (altars) are often built in homes to honor ancestors who have passed and will include food, candles, pictures, and other items to honor and welcome the deceased. Marigolds, often called the ‘flowers of the dead’, are also included on the ofrenda as the fragrance is believed to attract souls to the altar.
In partnership with Dr. Alcántar and the Chicana/o and Latinx Studies program and the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, El Día de Los Muertos will be celebrated with a display of altars in the Campus Commons. These altars will be created by university students and departments and will be available for viewing by the UNC community and students from District 6 and Aims Community College between November 1 – 5. A program and presentation for this event is scheduled on Tuesday, November 2 from 4:30 – 7:30pm at the UNC Campus Commons.
In addition to the display of altars here on the UNC campus, there are other opportunities to learn and celebrate Día de los Muertos locally including through the High Plains Library District at the Lincoln Park Library and Farr Park Library, as well as several in the Denver area.
Take Action:
- Día de los Muertos Toolkit
- A Celebration of Life: El Día de los Muertos
- The Meaning Behind Six Objects on Día de los Muertos Altars
- Attach the Día de los Muertos design elements to your email signature and/or use it in your social media
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DDEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resources from the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkit from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
Feliz Día de los Muertos!
