This past week, UTSA students celebrated their culture and loved ones for Día de los Muertos.
Día de los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, can be traced back to pre-colonial Mexico. The holiday is a day of remembrance for those who have passed. It is believed that on Día de los Muertos, the souls of our loved ones return so that we can celebrate their lives.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, two ofrendas appeared on campus, seemingly out of nowhere. The first ofrenda was found in the Humanities building, and it was organized and built by La Comunidad, a student organization. This altar featured photos of Frida Kahlo and Matthew Perry, among many others, candles, tissue paper flowers and much more.
All ofrendas are different and customized to those who built them. Typically, you can find photos of one’s family and friends, candles and incense, water, marigolds, desserts, your loved ones’ favorite foods and decorations, such as sugar skulls and tissue paper flowers.
The second altar, located on the first floor of the Student Union, was a “Day of the Dead Exhibit,” constructed by students from the Honors Engaged Living course. HON 3503 exposes students to knowledge that helps them become better decision makers. The large altar was surrounded by small plaques explaining the elements featured in the ofrenda.
It was exciting to see the different ways that UTSA students celebrated the holiday and educated others about it with these altars.
