The Arizona Museum of Natural History (formerly known as the Mesa Southwest Museum) provided us with this explanation of El Día de los Muertos, or, in English, Day of the Dead:
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The Day of the Dead is a ritual the indigenous people of Mexico have been practicing for more than 3,000 years. It is still celebrated in Mexico as well as certain parts of the United States
and Central America. Native Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations viewed death as the continuation of life rather than the end.
In the United States and certain parts of Mexico it is traditional for families to build in-home altars dedicated to the dead. They place flowers, food, pictures of the deceased and lighted candles around the altars.
Many Valley cities host Day of the Dead celebrations each year on the first two days of November. People will sometimes don wooden skull masks and dance to honor deceased loved ones. The wooden skulls, or calacas, are also placed on altars. A relative or a friend often eats sugar skulls, bearing the name of the dead person on the forehead.
Day of the Dead Celebrations/Exhibits in the Phoenix Area
El Dia de los Muertos, A Celebration of Life Festival
Noon to 8 p.m. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, Historic Downtown Chandler. The Vision Gallery, Xico Inc. and The Calaca Center organize a day of hand-built altars, entertainment, and arts and crafts. The Mercado features vendors with one of a kind artworks created by Arizona artists, the Vision Kidz area with hands-on activities, including sugar skulls, calacas and papel picado. The Great Arizona Puppet Theater presents “Funny Bunny’s Day of the Dead Holiday Adventure.” Community Altar and 5 p.m. processional, altar blessing, a Hispanic Filmmaker’s Forum, demonstrations by working artists. The Calaca Cultural Center will present, “The History of Dia de los Muertos Exhibition.” The Dia de los Muertos stage will present Zarco Guerrero, Mardi Dance Company, Gunzawless, and local performers and bands, followed by the well-known sounds of Barrio Latino at 6 p.m.
In 2007: November 3
Vision Gallery, Chandler
Hand-built altars and offrendas by Marco Albarran, Virginia Aguero, Gloria Arvizu Thompson, Jose Benavides, Jorge Rodriguez Eagar, April Edwards, Zarco Guerrero and Carmen De Novais, Kathy Cano Murillo and Patrick Murillo, Yvonne Villareal Torres, Spencer Mahaffey Maat, Ruben Maqueda, Juan Olalde and artworks by Catie Raya and Rafael Navarro.
In 2007: October 22 – November 4
Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix
In the Central Gallery the library hosts a Día de los Muertos art exhibition featuring the work of emerging and established Arizona artists.
In 2007: October 29 - November 9
Día de los Muertos at the Desert Botanical Garden
From the web site: "Experience the traditions of old Mexico at Día de los Muertos, a festive and colorful holiday honoring departed loved ones. Enjoy delicious Mexican food and pastries, interact with the Garden’s own altar, listen to the sounds of traditional mariachis and shop for beautiful Mexican art in the Garden’s Mercado."
In 2007: October 27, 28
ASU West
This annual event features music, cajita displays, and information about Dia De Los Muertos.
In 2007: November 1
