Dia de los Muertos (All Souls’ Day), one of Mexico’s most celebrated holidays, will be observed at Laredo Community College in a special event sponsored by La Pequeña Barraca Spanish Club, on Friday, October 29.
Club members will set up an altar de los muertos in memory of some the club members’ most cherished Latino idols. Among the departed souls who will be honored are three Mexicans, including actor/singer Pedro Infante, actress Maria Felix, and comedy actor Mario “Cantinflas” Moreno. Other icons that will be recognized include Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente and Cuban songstress Celia Cruz.
El Dia de los Muertos—October 31—is a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, candy calaveras (skulls) and parades. It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2.
This year’s celebration at LCC marks the second occasion that the LCC Spanish Club presents an altar de los muertos. Last year, they dedicated an altar in memory of LCC Foreign Languages instructor Leonel Galindo.
“Day of the Dead is one of the most celebrated parties in Mexico. The offering is a living hope to spend just one more day with our loved ones from far away, from a remote place that allows them to return to earth, to the land of tastes, smells, colors, sounds and textures...where they must relearn about senses and experiences that are no longer useful to them. They come back to share our elements, those which surely they also had at one time, and it is our only way to ensure communion in the festivity,” said Mirna Alvarez, a member of the LCC Spanish Club.
In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muerto baked in the shape of skulls and figures. Candles, photos and other items are also displayed to memorialize the departed souls, explained Alvarez.
She added that the Spanish Club will sell three types of candy calaveras.
Also on Friday, the LCC Show Band will provide two Halloween music concerts at the Kazen Center. Show times are 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon. The band, directed by Music Instructor Jose Compean, will present an array of All Hallows Eve tunes and much more.
The LCC Yeary Library is also offering an exhibit of books, photographs and interesting curios in observance of Dia de los Muertos and Halloween. The exhibit is on display in the front of the library through November 2.
Admission to all events is free of charge to students and the community.
For more information, contact the LCC Marketing and Public Information Office by calling 721-5140.
Office of Marketing and Public Information
West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
956- 721-5140
Fax 956-721-5443