Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, marks a time in early November for people to pay respect to departed family members, friends and pets.
The tradition, which has Mexican origins, is typically celebrated Nov. 1 and 2. It's rooted in Indigenous and Spanish Catholic rituals and is seen as a celebration of life and a continued remembrance of those who passed away.
During the holiday, people create ofrendas, altars that are decorated with photos of the dead, candles, Cempasúchil (marigolds), their favorite food, water and sweets. It serves as an invitation for the souls of dead loved ones to return for a day to be celebrated.
Over the weekend, various Western North Carolina Latino organizations are hosting events around the region as the tradition has grown in popularity among Latinos in the United States.
Reina Melendez is a senior at Western Carolina University and the president of the Latin American Student Organization. She said she started making an ofrenda her freshman year of college to honor her grandparents.
“ My freshman year I was super homesick,” Melendez said. “When I started doing it, it felt comforting in a way that, even though I'm away from home, I know I still have others watching over me.”
Melendez’s organization typically hosts an event celebrating the tradition. It’s usually held in a room at the University Center on the college’s campus but Melendez wanted to change the location this year.
“The past years, I was like, ‘Why are we not sharing this with other people? Why are we not making it a bigger thing?’” Melendez said. “It’s a big part of our tradition and culture.”
This year, the organization decided to move the celebration to the Catafount, which is the center of the university and draws a lot of foot traffic.
“ I just wanted it where anyone from any culture that wants to celebrate someone that's passed to come and put up their photo,” Melendez said.
Here is a list of other Día de los Muertos events taking place around the region to keep the tradition alive:
Cempazúchil flowers in Asheville
- Tierra Fertil Coop is selling cempazúchil flowers from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the El Porvenir Economic and Cultural Center, 17 Westside Drive, Asheville.
Ancestros, Cultura, y Sabores in Asheville
- Colaborativa La Milpa will host a community celebration from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at the El Porvenir Cultural and Economic Center, 17 Westside Drive, Asheville.
Festival de Otoño in Swannanoa
- Bounty y Soul is hosting an event from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at 216 Whitson Ave.
