In celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, altars and poetry exhibitions will be held from November 1st to 8th. University of Alabama Student Center. This holiday is celebrated in early November and is widely celebrated in Mexico and other countries as a memorial to deceased family members and friends.
This event is a collaboration between various UA associations focused on recognizing Hispanic and Latino culture. College of Liberal Arts, Department of Modern Languages and Classics, Hispanic and Latino Association, Latino Teachers Association; And that Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.
Yunuen Gómez Ocampo, a Spanish teacher at UA, was in charge of coordinating and decorating the altar, along with other events celebrating the holiday.
To celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away, an altar is erected with photos, candles, food, drink, and marigolds. Gomez-Ocampo said other items could also be incorporated, such as personal items, decorated tissue paper and offerings such as sugar skulls.
“On November 1st, I led a community engagement event with SP368 Translation and Interpretation students at University Place Elementary School that included interactive activities and storytelling.”,” said Gomez-Ocampo.
Erin Hidalgo, a senior majoring in Spanish and international studies, along with other members of Sigma Delta Pi, organized the Calaverita Creation event. Calaveritas are traditional Mexican poems associated with Día de los Muertos and are displayed next to altars as part of the decoration.
“These poems are traditionally humorous and satirical, as they depict relatives and friends., “‘La Huesda,’ which is a depiction of a celebrity who performs the act of overcoming death, or a woman’s death in Mexican culture,” said Hidalgo, Sigma Delta Pi’s director of recruitment. “It was a great event and we can’t wait to collect even more Calaveritas next year!”
On Nov. 7, a panel discussion featuring Hispanic and Latino community program leaders will discuss engagement with Tuscaloosa’s Hispanic and Latino communities with UA students and provide food samples to participants.
“This is a series of cultural events to learn about the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead and community advocacy,” said Gomez Ocampo. “We intend to foster engagement with the local Hispanic and Latino communities by listening to the experiences of community leaders.”