Organizers called the first Dia de los Muertos celebration to be held on the Santa Fe Plaza a rousing success.
“I think that anything that helps us to do that, to take a moment, just hit the pause button, and really reflect – I think that’s good for us as a community,” Ray Sandoval, one of the organizers, told KOB. “It’s good for us as human beings.”
Dia de los Muertos, which means Day of the Dead, is an annual two-day event celebrated in parts of the world to recognize departed family members and friends. In many cases, altars are decorated with colorful flowers, photos and even the favorite food and drinks of those being honored. “The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations,” according to the Day of the Dead website.
Taking inspiration from the film “Coco,” organizers wanted to recognize the tradition in the historic Santa Fe Plaza. The turnout not only included locals but also tourists from around the country. “I was a little nervous because I didn’t want to do any kind of cultural appropriation,” Carol Baldwin, a visitor from Massachusetts told KOB. She brought pictures of her loved ones. “I was so warmly welcomed."