Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Flagstaff, Arizona
This ancient Meso-American holiday is held throughout Mexico, Latin America and the Southwestern US. The Museum of Northern Arizona puts on the celebration in the Flagstaff area. Dia de los Muertos is the transforming of grief into celebration. The ritual pays homage to the lives of lost loved ones by inviting them back to enjoy their favorite music and foods and to honor their contribution in life.
The families of Flagstaff families bring ofrendas (altars) from their homes to share in a courtyard exhibit illuminated by candles and luminaries. You will be able to learn how Day of the Dead traditions evolved and the meaning behind the objects on the ofrendas.
During the celebration people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend.
The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth.
The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the month long 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 truly awake.
Check with the University of Northern Arizona for exact dates for the celbration and then put it on your calendar!
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