Día de los Muertos is one of the most important holidays in the Latin world. It originated in Mexico as a fusion of Aztec and Catholic traditions and focuses on honoring the dead and commemorating loved ones passed.
Día de los Muertos coincides with Halloween (and retailers market them as one and the same), but the holidays are quite distinct. Día de los Muertos is not ghoulish; the dead are not frightening; the idea of death is not sorrowful or dark. It is believed the veil between the land of the living and that of the dead lifts on November 1 and 2, and souls return home for an annual visit. The two-day affair starts at midnight on November 1 with the arrival of children’s souls (Día de los Angelitos); adult souls visit at midnight on November 2 (Día de los Difuntos); and all souls are celebrated during the day (Día de los Muertos).
Ofrendas
One cornerstone of the holiday is the ofrenda, a memorial for departed loved ones. The word translates as “offering,” and families create altar-like tributes laid out with foods, photos, flowers, candles, and cherished mementos. When honoring both children and adults, families redecorate the ofrendas between November 1 and 2, shifting from keepsakes such as toys to more mature displays.
Each year during this celebration, the Garden is honored to have local participants create their own ofrendas, right here in Kapnick Hall.
For the 2025 Día de los Muertos Celebration, see ofrendas from:
- Gutierrez Family
- Herrera Family
- Mendez Family
- Hernandez Family
- Medellin Family
- Olsen-Godoy Family
- Bartolon Family
View these community altars, as well as the Garden’s own ofrenda, during the annual Día de los Muertos Celebration November 1 & 2.
