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Home Lifestyle Community Happenings Photos: SLCC and West Valley communities celebrate Day of the Dead
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Photos: SLCC and West Valley communities celebrate Day of the Dead

By
Cristian Martinez
-
November 7, 2022
0
Dia de los Muertos altar
This altar – referred to as an “ofrenda” in context of the holiday, which translates to “offering” – greeted guests on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, follows Halloween, but unlike the October holiday, Día de los Muertos sees family and friends gathering to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died.

During the holiday – traditionally celebrated in Mexico and by those of Mexican heritage on Nov. 1 and 2 – colorful altars with photographs, food, beverages, papier-mâché and marigolds tell the story of kin and serve to invite their souls back to the land of the living. Celebrations can and often do take a light-hearted tone.

Salt Lake Community College’s Dream Center and Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs celebrated the holiday last week, hosting two events at the West Valley Center and Taylorsville Redwood Campus on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Both events were open to the public.

“It’s always good to have the community out here,” said Idolina Quijada, manager of the West Valley Center. “It’s good to see that they know we embrace our culture.”

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, West Valley City’s Hispanic/Latino populace accounts for 40% of the total population – the highest percentage figure of any city in Utah.

Community members and local Latino-owned businesses provided food and services, and – in the case of the first event – performed for guests. Numbers included a Mariachi performance and two folk dances.

An altar – referred to as an “ofrenda” in context of the holiday, which translates to “offering” – greeted guests at both events, allowing for all in attendance to place and share the names and photos of loved ones. Guests also had the chance to participate in sugar skull workshops.

“The cultural aspect of being able to participate in this event drew me here,” said Emily Alarcon, a SLCC student and intern for the college’s Dream Center, as she and a friend participated in the workshop.

Yesenia Figueroa, another student, wanted to explore the differences between her Puerto Rican background and Mexican culture.

“There’s a lot of similarities but a lot of differences as well,” Figueroa concluded.

Though most of those who attended both events were Latino, the celebrations also drew people of other backgrounds, a point which Brenda Santoyo, manager for the Dream Center, said is exciting.

“[Day of the Dead] is traditionally a Mexican holiday, and it’s celebrated in other ways in different cultures,” Santoyo said, “but being able to plan something where people from all backgrounds are participating is beautiful to see.”

Looking to the future, Quijada hopes that with continued funding, the Dream Center will be able to keep bringing Day of the Dead celebrations to SLCC.

2022 Day of the Dead celebrations at SLCC
1 of 20
Dia de los Muertos altar
This altar – referred to as an "ofrenda" in context of the holiday, which translates to “offering” – greeted guests on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos altar
Altars are traditionally decorated with food, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead"), beverages, papier-mâché, alfeñiques ("sugar skulls") and marigolds. (Tonia Day)
Sticky notes with names on the wall by Dia de los Muertos altar
Guests from both events placed the names and photos of loved ones on or near the ofrendas, pictured here on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Mariachi band performing
Academia Mis Raices performs a mariachi number on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Tonia Day)
Accordion player with the rest of the mariachi band
Academia Mis Raices performs a mariachi number on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Tonia Day)
Mariachi band member entertaining guests
An instrumentalist from Academia Mis Raices among guests on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
People enjoying Dia de los Muertos food
Members of Academia Mis Raices mingle, eating pan de muerto ("bread of the dead') and drinking champurrado, a Mexican chocolate drink. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos dancer
A young dancer prepares to perform a folk dance on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Young person performs a folk dance as mariachi band plays
A young dancer performs a folk dance on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos dancers
Multiple dancers prepare to perform a follow up folk dance on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos dancer in traditional attire
A dancer of the second folk dance shifts position during Day of the Dead celebrations at the West Valley Center. (Tonia Day)
Dia de los Muertos dancers
Multiple dancers perform the second folk dance on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Man decorates a sugar skull
A guest puts the finishing touches on a sugar skull during the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Two people with painted skull faces decorate sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos
Emily Alarcon, left, and Chandler Taylor, donning calavera ("human skull") face paint, participate in the sugar skull workshop on the first Day of the Dead event at the West Valley Center. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos altar
This altar – referred to as an "ofrenda" in context of the holiday, which translates to “offering” – greeted guests on the second Day of the Dead event at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos altar
This altar – referred to as an "ofrenda" in context of the holiday, which translates to “offering” – greeted guests on the second Day of the Dead event at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos altar
A photo of someone's grandmother is placed on the Day of the Dead altar at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
Dia de los Muertos food
Guests grab pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") and champurrado, a Mexican chocolate drink, on the second Day of the Dead event at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
Decorating a sugar skull for Dia de los Muertos
A guest decorates a sugar skull during the second Day of the Dead event at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
Emily Alarcon holding a sugar skull
Emily Alarcon discusses her finished sugar skull with other guests on the second Day of the Dead event at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. (Cristian Martinez)
  • TAGS
  • Brenda Santoyo
  • Day of the Dead
  • Dia de los Muertos
  • Dream Center
  • Emily Alarcon
  • holidays
  • Idolina Quijada
  • Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
  • photo gallery
  • Taylorsville Redwood Campus
  • West Valley Center
  • Yesenia Figueroa
Cristian Martinez

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