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Día de los Muertos
This gallery showcases vibrant moments from the Día de los Muertos celebration held at ETHS on November 3, 2023.
Evanston Township High School hosted a celebration of Día de los Muertos this Friday, November 3. Día de los Muertos is a holiday that is largely celebrated in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage around the world. It is believed that during this day the veil between the world of life and death vanishes.
The event was organized by the ETHS Latino Advisory Committee, the LatinX student group and Latinos en Evanston North Shore (LENS), a local nonprofit organization. Sandra Silvern, Mayra Moreno, Fabiola Alfonso, Rosa Velázquez and Mercedes Fernández were among the organizers.
Moreno, a communication and outreach coordinator at LENS, was setting up the altar, organizing the charity table and coordinating with the rest of the team before the guests arrived and the festivities began.
An altar, decorated with a tapestry of flowers, cherished photos and food offerings, stands as a tribute to those who have embarked on their journey beyond. The space also serves as an invitation to the spirits from the realm of the departed, welcoming them into our world once again.
Moreno said this event is about the community and coming together. “There are many people around that I don't even know and they don't even know me. But they are here for the same reason. Maybe they have loved ones for a way that they lost,” said Moreno. “By us being together we are united in the same building, just holding a space open, for more loved ones, my loved ones, their loved ones.”
Moreno said this is a special event for her. Her mother passed away when she was eight years old and her father left this world in 2019. “I remember I was a little girl going to the cemetery and just being there and feeling closer to my mother,” said Moreno. “Even though I'm here and both of them are in their graves in Mexico, just by being here present and celebrating at home, I feel like I'm still connected with them.”
Although busy with the event, Moreno found time for a casual chat with attendees, an encouraging smile to her daughter and a cup of hot chocolate, which was distributed to all guests at no cost.
Jewelry and decorations play an important role during the day of Día de los Muertos. Calaveras and sugar skull jewelry are prominent symbols, representing the connection to death and celebrating it as a regular human experience. Often, people wear jewelry that holds personal significance or has belonged to the deceased loved ones.
During the event, she and her daughter were selling hand-made crafts: bracelets, flower crowns, necklaces and other items. Moreno said all the proceeds will be donated to pay the cost of Spanish-speaking senior activities at Levy Center.
“In Latvia, on November 2, we also celebrate the day of the dead,” I told Moreno, who wanted me to share this fact. “I feel that even though we're part of different worlds, it's very important to continue to keep our loved ones in our hearts and keep their presence on special occasions like Día de los Muertos,” Moreno said.
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