Today my sister and I went to a Día de Muertos celebration at the local Fine Arts Center. It was a free event with family activities, food, vendors, music, and a traditional Hispanic altar. The event was very well attended with lost of kids and families. You could make a sugar skull mask, tissue paper flowers, papel picado (banners), or get your face painted with typical Day of the Dead decoration. The vendors sold religious and Mexican items. My sister and I enjoyed meandering and looking at the different art in the museum as well. Then we came to the large community ofrenda. Everyone was invited to leave photos or items that were special to their loved ones on the huge decorated altar. My sister and I brought some prayer cards from my parents’ funerals and some origami roses made from pages of my mother’s music books. Even though the museum was packed, the atmosphere changed when we walked into the room with the large altar. It was more quiet, somber, peaceful. There were chairs set up on the sides for people to sit and reflect or pray. We found a nice little niche and placed the cards and roses. We took a few moments in silence, then sat down for a bit. I watched as people came in and found spaces for the trinkets they brought. Some people knelt down, embraced each other, and most were in tears. I somehow felt like I was invading a person’s intimate space. But everyone seemed to understand and feel the same things. It was a very moving experience and I was glad that my sister and I went to the event.
I Found God today in the Día de Muertos celebration.
