City College’s Center for Equity and Social Justice (CESJ) is opening tables to be altars, allowing community members to celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that lasts from Nov. 1 to Nov 2. While some might mistakenly overlook this celebration as just a continuation of Halloween, the significant meaning of Día de los Muertos is far more deep than a costume parade.
Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated by families coming together to build altars on tables, crates, shelves, or grave sites–hanging pictures of deceased loved ones as a way of bringing their presence and memories back to life.
CESJ set up dozens of tables to host altars from different departments and programs across campus, allowing the community to come together on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and experience the celebration collectively throughout the remainder of the week.
CESJ Student Program Advisor Selena Martinez invites students of all backgrounds to take part in this day of memorial.
“This is a day the veil has been lifted, and our cherished loved ones that we put on our altar are able to come back and visit us,” Martinez said.
Martinez is honoring her grandparents, uncle, and one of her past pets with an altar she set up in her office.
Martinez emphasized the power of marginalized groups coming together during events like this. She describes it as a transforming moment, where the community is empowered.
Student worker Will Rubison shares the powerful sentiment in the holiday spirit and hopes to encourage other students to take part in this holiday tradition.
“I have a great grandmother that was deceased a couple of years back that I and my family still hold close to our heart, and so we’re probably gonna put her photo up,” Rubison said.
From Wed Oct. 30 through Sun Nov. 3, the CESJ along with the Luria Library, Racies, EOPS, Basic Needs, Antioch University, the Hub, and Dream Center will be inviting others to celebrate Día de los Muertos by opening the center so students, staff and faculty can observe, engage and bring offerings.
