CLEVELAND, OHIO – The annual Dia de los Muertos festival took place over the weekend in Cleveland’s vibrant Gordon Square neighborhood giving celebration to life and to those who have dearly departed. The Day of the Dead is one of the most important celebrations of the year in Mexico and other Latin American cultures. It is a time to celebrate Latino culture and art by bringing traditions and folklore to the community, and to honor the memory of those who have passed.
BACKGROUND
The traditions involved in Dia de los Muertos have been traced back 3000 years to the times of the ancient Aztecs. These traditions originally were celebrated near the beginning of summer, however, through time, they gradually moved to coincide with the western Christian culture, mainly the Catholic Church, of “All Saints Day” and “All Souls Day”. In 2008, the tradition of Dia de los Muertos was added to the official list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO to preserve it’s significance in the world. Today, the holiday is celebrated starting October 31, November 1, and November 2 of each year. Annually, celebrations take place, and family congregates at the cemetery of loved ones to visit the graves of their ancestors.
THE FESTIVAL
Brilliantly colored costumes are worn, some including paper mâché skulls and others being intricate skull face paintings. In Cleveland, a mid afternoon parade commences through the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood down Detroit Rd and passed the Capitol Theater. It includes folk dancers and various musicians, sometimes including a mariachi band. Beautiful Mexican art pieces related to this holiday are displayed. Such elaborate pieces include an “ofrenda”, which means “offering” in Spanish. It is a type of altar, not made for worshiping, but instead is created for an individual person who has passed and will include different objects placed upon the alter. These items may include their deceased ancestors favorite food as well as lit candles so the deceased can find their way back home. The food will not be eaten by anyone but is instead prepared for the souls of the passed. The skull, which typically represents death and/or rebirth, is an important part of the Dia de los Muertos. During the Aztec times, it is said skulls were collected and used during rituals to be used as symbols for death and rebirth. Today skulls are made, sometimes of candy, and are painted and decorated to be worn or displayed. Marigolds are also linked to the holiday, said to represent the sun and life
At the Cleveland Dia de los Muertos festival in Cleveland, there were many decorated ofrenda’s viewable from inside St Mary’s Orthodox Romanian Church. In a touching display made for the victims of Hurricane Maria which destroyed the island of Puerto Rico, was a paining of the hurricane and a message from the artist stating:
“Huracan Maria 09/20/2017 – An abstract view of the circle of life for the people of Puerto Rico. It depicts the destruction, the survival, and rebirth of generations past, present, and future. It gives a glimpse of the harch realities and brutal force of nature but most importantly the brave souls of the dead and the resilience of the living.”
Outside St. Mary’s church was an artfully constructed cemetery containing memorials, photographs and messages for loved ones who have passed. One memorial was painted with the images of David Bowie, Prince, and the most recent passing of Tom Petty. Banners hung around the circumference of the cemetery depicting images of popular reality televisions shows “Hells Kitchen”, “Swamp People”, and “Big Brother”. In the church parking lot, folk dancers put on a show, and people on stilts posed for pictures with the public.
