On Nov. 3, Clemson University hosted its sixth annual Day of the Dead event, also known as El Día de los Muertos.
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2. To celebrate, the Commission of Latinos Affairs and other partners helped organize this event, which took place in the Carillon Gardens for the entire Clemson community.
Walking up to the event, attendees were immediately immersed in the Latino culture with vibrant colors and music. The festivities were truly made for everyone, with each sign having both English as well as Spanish.
Within the white event tent was a Day of the Dead tradition called an ofrenda. An ofrenda is an altar that people make to honor their loved ones who have passed away.
Multiple ofrendas held pictures of loved ones as well as candles, bread of the dead, calendula flowers and personal items. The purpose of the candles is to light the way for the souls coming to the altar.
Bread of the dead is found on most altars, which is typically a sweet bread, round in shape, that has crossed bones on the top. The calendula flowers were bright orange, creating a path to guide the souls to their designated alter. Personal items are typically belongings that the person liked or items related to their hobby.
There were at least six ofrendas, with one of them being a community one, for anyone to place pictures of their loved ones, allowing for the community to be involved in this tradition.
There was face painting, sugar skull coloring pages and masks, a mariachi band and eight food truck options.
The face painting and the coloring pages were fun ways to get the kids and adults involved. They could color a sugar skull and also have their face painted like one, embracing the significance of the sugar skull.
The mariachi band was a great addition to the festivities, allowing the community to be fully immersed in the musical side of the culture. The food trucks were a big hit, serving different types of Mexican food, such as tamales and churros. In the last couple hours of the event, the movie “Coco” was projected in the amphitheater.
The organizers of this event did a fantastic job bringing this part of the Latino culture to life, as well as allowing the Clemson community to be fully immersed in the traditions of the Day of the Dead.
