Day of the Dead
Click here for Spanish.
Day of the Dead Table of Content:
KCTS 9 V-me Video Ofrendas
The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and Latin America as well as by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States and Canada.
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to remember and celebrate friends and relatives who have died.
Traditions include building ofrendas and altars – honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
A holiday with Indigenous American and Spanish Catholic roots, it is finding new relevance as a time to celebrate the memories of the deceased among communities diverse in culture and religion.
Photo Gallery: V-me Video Ofrendas
One of the Day of the Dead traditions is the creation of sand tapetes, literally "carpets of sand".
Explore the detail of each of the ofrendas featured in the videos – delicate paper flowers, colorful sugar skulls, somber sepia portraits and more. Photos highlight the following video-ofrendas:
Latino H.E.A.T. – A youth organization in Bellevue
Tapete – Installation of a sand painting by Seattle artists
La familia Aguilera – Remembering Polo Aguilera
Daniel DeSiga – A tribute to parents, pachucos and Yakima in the 40s
Interview with Fulgencio Lazo
Internationally renowned artist, Fulgencio Lazo, has fostered new traditions in the Northwest inspired by his native Oaxaca, Mexico.
Lazo, who has helped grow Day of the Dead traditions at museums in Seattle and Tacoma, shares thoughts on creating tapetes, literally “carpets of sand.” Using colored sand, shells, flower petals, chalk, stones, and glitter, artists create incredible depictions of saints, skeletons, even dedications and messages.
Recipe: Pan de Muerto
Pan de muerto (Spanish for Bread of the Dead or Day of the Dead Bread) is a type of bread baked during the Día de los Muertos season. It is a soft bread shaped in round loaves with strips of dough attached on top (to resemble bones), and usually covered or sprinkled with sugar.
The classic recipe for Pan de Muerto is a simple sweet bread recipe with the addition of anise seeds. Numerous recipes, however, also involve the introduction of fruit juice (usually orange).
Leave a Note for a Loved One
KCTS 9 and V-me invites you to remember your loved ones who rest in peace.
Comments
Posted by Leticia R. Contreras (not verified) on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 11:09am
Querido Alfredo:
Muchas gracias por recordar a mi tío Carlos Alfredo Contreras en este día ..que gusto saber que alguien por allá se toma la molestia de recordarlo varios años después,desde méxico un saludo.
Leticia R. Contreras
Posted by Martha (not verified) on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 3:53pm
Se oye raro decir, "Feliz Dia de los Muertos" pero lo que se celebra no es necesariamente la muerte, sino a los queridos que ya han pasado al otro mundo. La muerte tambien es parte de la vida de todo ser sin embarga carga con una conotacion negativa. Es decir que la muerte es el fin, pero no tiene que ser hacia para los queridos fallecidos. Es mas bien que ellos siguen viviendo en nosotros.
Posted by Martha (not verified) on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 3:48pm
Aunque no conoci a mis abuelos fallecidos, me gustaria dedicarles este poco espacio a ellos. Este festejo no es necesarimente a la muerte sino a los queridos que se han ido al otro mundo. La muerte tiene esa conotacion de ser algo negativo, pero tambien es parte de vivir. Es por eso que la muerte no necesariamente indica el final de las personas amadas porque ellos siguen viviendo en nosotros.
Posted by Lauri Jordana (not verified) on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 11:31am
I so miss my stepsister April Carlson. She died this time of year, two years ago, and I think of her every day. She was a beautiful, vivacious, funny girl who always supported me and loved me unconditionally. It's hard to say goodbye to a friend like that.
Posted by Kevin (not verified) on Fri, 10/24/2008 - 4:42pm
To my cousin Kenny, who died too early from cancer. Prayers and thoughts go out to you.
Love,
Kevin
Posted by Alfredo Feregrino (not verified) on Fri, 10/24/2008 - 3:56pm
La idea de establecer y continuar la tradicion del Dia de los Muertos en Seattle surgio en 1995 cuando Carlos Contreras trabajaba en el Seattle Art Museum. Nos juntamos varios artistas Joaquín Tavares, Fulgencio Lazo y yo Alfredo Feregrino y sembramos la semilla en el Northwest de lo que es ahora la tradicion "Dia de los muertos", presentamos por primera vez una instalacion de altar en el el Seattle Art Museum y fue la primera presentacion musical de nuestro grupo QUINTO SOL.
Carlos Contreras ha fallecido y Joaquin Tavares fue asesinado en Seattle en Enero 12 del 2006. Gracias por su empeño y empuje a continuar nuestra tradicion. Los recordamos en su arte y en su musica.
Alfredo Feregrino
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