How San Antonians keep the culture of Día de los Muertos alive
In 2019, San Antonio's Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair event was recognized as one of the best fall events in the United States.
Día de los Muertos, celebrated across Latin America and the U.S., is said to commemorate when the souls of those who have passed return to the world of the living for brief moment. San Antonians celebrate the holiday with parades and plenty of ofrendas, or altars, to honor loved ones who have passed.
In 2019, San Antonio's Día de los Muertos at Hemisfair event was recognized as one of the best fall events in the United States. If you've never experienced a Día de los Muertos event in the Alamo City, there are plenty of organizations and popular locations where you can be immersed in the culture of this well-known holiday.
Ofrendas
Ofrendas started popping up all around the city in October, tended to by artists, organizations and families. Ofrendas are a main element of Día de los Muertos, and a space for family members to leave things their loved ones enjoyed the most in life, such as snacks, as well as photos and religious symbols.
Where to view some ofrendas:
Briscoe Western Art Museum: The downtown museum invites guests and members to participate in their community ofrenda, which lasts until Thursday. The museum doesn't allow real food, liquids or plants, but that doesn't stop people from decorating ofrendas. Since ofrendas items can also be symbolic, many participants use artificial plants with plenty of colors and photos of those who have passed.
According to their website, ofrendas can also go beyond family ties, but extend to popular figures such as political and cultural icons. Some popular ofrendas you may see around San Antonio honor former San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell or the impersonator Hispanic Elvis.
The Briscoe will allow guests and member to add photos to their community ofrenda during regular museum business hours.
Centro Cultural Aztlan: This San Antonio art gallery will present its 46th annual Día de los Muertos exhibition, “Altares y Ofrendas,” on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
According to its website, el centro's event will illustrate the culture behind the pre-Columbian Mexican tradition where death is seen as a natural part of life and is approached with humor and celebration.
The ofrendas will be created by local artists and attendees will be able to enjoy refreshments.
The exhibit is free and open to the public through Nov. 8 during viewing hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KENS 5 builds ofrendas
Roma Villavicencio, Great Day SA anchor, built an altar for her mother, Luz Armida. Roma says was the youngest female of her 10 brothers and sisters, an incredible cook and a lover of classic rock.
"I did not grow up celebrating Día de Los Muertos with an altar in my home. It wasn’t until I moved to San Antonio in 2016 that I decided to start building my own altar," she said. "I didn’t realize what a deep and meaningful process it would be. I found myself laughing, crying, feeling so much nostalgia as I placed her favorite items on the altar."
Isis Romero, KENS 5 evening anchor, says she creates her ofrenda for multiple members of her family. Photos adorning the top of her ofrenda feature both sets of her grandparents as well as her great-great-grandparents.
"In my home, we celebrate it to a greater degree than Halloween," Romero said. "Our family sets up an ofrenda every year, and we also decorate other areas of our home with religious icons and décor that represents this beautiful tradition. I did not grow up celebrating Día de Muertos as a child, but have reclaimed the ability to observe it, as I grew more connected to my culture as an adult."
Performances
The city also celebrates Día de los Muertos ahead of Nov. 2 in true San Antonio fashion with a river parade. The Day of the Dead River Parade features 25 decorated barges each representing a different figure or tradition associated with Día de los Muertos, according to their website. This is a unique take on popular processions that take place in Mexico and across the US to help celebrate the holiday.
Many parades across the country were inspired by the media including a large Mexico City parade that was portrayed in the 2015 James Bond movie "Spectre." Mexico City held it's first parade the following year, according to the History Channel's website.
Where to view local performances:
Día de los Muertos at the Pearl: The Pearl Brewery will put on its 6th annual celebration Thursday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event will feature a procession with participants dressing as calaveras, or skulls, in traditional Latin attire. Many participants will also have lit costumes to showcase their brightly colored outfits. There will also be live music, drummers, puppets face painting and more. This will be a free event and open to the public.
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center: Performances will take place at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event with performances by the Guadalupe Dance Company, as well as the Guadalupe Mariachi and Dance Company. The dancers will also be dressed in traditional Day of the Dead attire.
The center advises those who are attending to bring lawn chairs to help enjoy the event. There will also be food and drinks for attendees to enjoy all while viewing some beautiful ofrendas, according to their website.
Calaveras
A Calavera Collection featuring 25 giant calaveras, or skulls, created by local artists have been placed all throughout the city. There are a total of five routes featuring beautiful calaveras along the Pearl, Southtown, Brooks, the north side and downtown, according to its website.
Each skull has a unique design representing a cultural story important to the artists who made them. The calaveras represent the artists' families through their colorful designs.
The north route will include a placement at La Cantera and the San Antonio Airport, where one calavera created by Agelica Gomez Mayorga calls her creation "My West Side Story." This calavera pays tribute to the recent tragedy in Uvalde, and depicts 21 monarchs flying above a bridge and landing at a tree where green shoes lie underneath—a symbol of homecoming for the Uvalde victims, according to their website.
Other popular spots to check out calaveras include CPS Energy, Hilton Palacio Del Rio, La Gloria Brooks and Burgerteca.
The calaveras are seen throughout celebrations of Día de los Muertos, used as decorations, parts of parade costumes, dolls and even sugar skulls for treats to eat. The calaveras are also portrayed as wearing traditional Latin clothing and engaging in some activity.
A Día de los Muertos event celebrated with a San Antonio twist is the Day of the Dead River Parade. This parade will feature 25 glowing river barges at night that that will sail down the San Antonio River, usually decorated with calaveras and alebrijes, spirit animals.
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