Para leer en español, haga clic aquí: Todos están invitados a la celebración del Día de los Muertos el 9 de noviembre
Ocracoke’s Mexican community invites all to experience one of their culture’s signature remembrances, Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, in a gathering from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, in the Community Center.
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration honoring those loved ones and ancestors who have passed, including pets.
Photographs of loved ones who have passed are placed on the altar as well as personal objects to make the spirits feel comfortable and recognized.
Everyone is invited to bring a photo to place on the altar of a loved one or ancestor who has passed along with a tidbit of food they enjoyed or an object that was special to them or represents them.
People can come as early as 2 p.m. to put items on the altar.
A talk by Alfonso Pioquinto Escobar about the tradition will begin at 4:30 after which people are free to reflect on their loved ones, ask questions and socialize.
The tradition has its roots in the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. These cultures believed in life after death and that the dead would return to earth on certain days of the year.
The current celebration merged with the Catholic tradition of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which was introduced by Spanish conquistadors.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 each year with November 1 known as the Day of the Innocents, honoring children who have died, and November 2, known as Day of the Dead, honoring deceased adults.
The celebration has transcended Mexico’s borders and is celebrated Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, but the Ocracoke event is being held the week after because of events on Ocracoke the prior weekend.
In the tradition, an altar, or ofrenda, to honor the dead is built and decorated with flowers, candles, incense, photographs and personal objects.
Marigold flowers are traditionally used as they are believed to guide the spirits of the dead to the altar.
Traditional foods are prepared, such as Pan de Muertos (bread of the dead), mole, tamales, fruits and sweets and families gather to remember their loved ones.
On Nov. 9, there will be food for everyone but guests are invited to place a small sample of food their loved one enjoyed on the altar and bring some more to share with the group potluck-style.
Candles are lit to guide and symbolize the light that illuminates the path to the afterlife.
Incense is burned to purify the environment and attract the spirits.
Offering this celebration for all is a way to break discover common ground, noted island musician Lou Castro.
“If you want to get to know someone culturally and personally, learn about what’s important to them and the things they celebrate,” he said. “If we can do that, we’ll see that we have more in common than we have differences.”
I’ve been impressed for years at how inclusive the island community has been to the Latino populations in their midst. Bravo!
Is Ocracoke now a sanctuary island now