By: Jose Carranza
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (UATV) —The Latin Art Organization of Arkansas hosted its Day of the Dead event at Shiloh Square in Springdale.
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families celebrate life and death. Deceased loved ones’ souls return to earth as they come to visit. Families place offerings of their favorite things at altars made at home or in the community.
The Latin Art Organizations of Arkansas’ week-long event started with the building of the altar on November first and second. Araceli Lopez, Artistic Director, says that anyone can come and place their offering and photo of a deceased loved one on the altar anytime during their celebration. Lopez Adds that, in Mexico, the celebration doesn’t end after November first or second when the holiday is set.
After seeing the need for coming together, Lopez says that it made sense to make a community altar from the situation the hispanic community went through.
“We decided to have a community altar to honor all the people who’ve passed away to this situation because the hispanic community has been one of the most affected in this pandemic,” said Lopez.
According to the CDC, a Hispanic person is two-point-three times more likely to die from covid than a white, non-hispanic person.
Widow Maria Duarte came to the altar and laid her own deceased husband’s photo down along with red roses. Duarte says that she has an altar at home with his photo and offerings but wanted to participate in the community altar for her own children.
“I bring the photo here for my kids because I look at my daughter when she goes there. She looks there and says ‘there is my daddy’,” said Duarte.
Duarte also experienced the pandemic in her own family. She said that she added the photo of her uncle and brother who passed away in 2020 within two weeks of each other. She claimed that they may have died from Covid but can’t be sure. Yet, with experience of losing a loved one, Duarte said she would like to help those feeling pain.
For Day of the Dead 2021, Duarte wanted her family to celebrate their lives and keep the tradition going, especially for her daughter who participated in the community celebration.
“It’s a beautiful tradition that I tell her not to lose…just remember every Day of the Dead to remember your father…to put down what he loved,” said Duarte.
The Latin Art Organization of Arkansas also hosted a celebration on Saturday. The organization had a Catrinas Procession starting at noon. The celebration also included many traditional dance groups and traditional music that lasted throughout the night until seven.