Day of the Dead Community Event.

The Day of the Dead is an ancient tradition celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is a holiday linked to the Aztec agricultural calendar from Pre-Spanish invasion, ancient times and it is a special time dedicated to the remembrance of deceased loved ones. Five hundred years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors first arrived Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. Although the ritual has since been merged with some Christian traditions, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become fully awake.

Latino Arts for Humanity is dedicated to preserving this unique Mexican festivity in Columbus, maintaining its cultural importance within the local community for future Hispanic generations to embrace. Our goal is to educate the local community on this celebration through explanatory history, altar exhibits, original art, interactive projects, colorful visual arts, poetry readings, music, dance, Mexican folk traditions and authentic Mexican food. We wish to share with the community the cultural background of The Day of the Dead celebration providing the opportunity to observe a different perception of the “life-death” duality.

This festivity is celebrated differently all throughout South and Central America, but Latino Arts for Humanity focuses primarily on the Mexican Traditions. In Mexico, they celebrate with the creation of altar exhibitions dedicated to their deceased ancestors. An altar is an offering made in honor of somebody that has passed away. On their altars, they often place portraits or personal items. They place candles to represent the light needed to guide the spirit of the departed to the offering, incense to clean the air where the offering is set up, water because they will be thirsty after their long journey back and the Cempazuchitl flower, the yellow marigold flower, to symbolize death.