CELEBRATING DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

By Brittany Hart Scholten  |  Photos submitted by MOLAA

If you’ve seen Disney’s Coco, you’ve had a glimpse of the vibrant and colorful celebration of life after death: Día de los Muertos. Rooted in traditions that date back more than 3,000 years, it began with the Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico, who used the holiday to honor deceased loved ones and believed that each year the spirits of loved ones could return to visit the living during this time. In the past two decades, the celebration has crossed borders, gaining popularity in the U.S., where it is primarily observed on November 1 and 2.

One common element each celebration has is the centerpiece of the holiday–the ofrenda–an altar to honor our loved ones. Each ofrenda is unique but some traditional items are: photographs of the departed, calaveras, candles, cempasúchil, and pan de muerto. Arturo Enciso of Gusto Bread explains, “Pan de muerto is a symbolic bread. It's topped with little different shapes on top of it that some people say represent teardrops and other people say represent bones.” 

A newer addition to Long Beach’s festivities is the Viva La Vida run in Belmont Shore. Host Angela Holder, who once lived in Mexico, said her idea grew from experiencing the holiday there, “It becomes this magical place at that time. Everybody's in the parks and they're near the church and there's flowers everywhere.”

Personally, I did not grow up celebrating Día de los Muertos, but discovered it in college over 20 years ago and fell in love with the meaningful holiday. As a Spanish teacher, I taught my students about the holiday and now, as a mother of two boys, we build an ofrenda to my grandparents each year and use it as an opportunity to keep stories of my children’s great grandparents alive, as well as to teach my children about Mexican culture.

From neighborhood ofrendas to fresh loaves of pan de muerto, Long Beach offers many ways to honor the tradition. This season, visit local events and bakeries to celebrate Día de los Muertos in your own way.

Ofrenda Essentials

These traditional items help welcome and honor loved ones.

Photographs – to remember and welcome the spirits of loved ones.

Calaveras (sugar skulls) – a visual representation of death in a celebratory and not-frightening way.

Candles – to light the way for returning souls.

Cempasúchil (marigolds) – their bright color and scent help guide spirits.

Pan de Muerto – symbolic bread representing life, death, and remembrance.

Copal (incense) – its smoke is believed to cleanse the space and carry prayers.

Favorite Food or Drink – offered to nourish spirits of loved ones.

Papel picado (tissue paper cut-outs) – represents the fragility of life and the soul’s journey to the living.

Salt – symbol of purification and protection.

Personal Items – mementos that reflect the spirit’s personality and passions.

Water – offered in a simple glass to quench the thirst of the loved ones who have traveled so far to visit. 

Indigenous groups were greatly influenced by the earth and the main items on the ofrenda represent life’s elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Earth is represented by food—like pan de muerto and favorite family dishes. Wind is symbolized by papel picado with its gentle movement. Fire is signified by the candles that are lit. And water refreshes loved ones after their long journey home.

LOCAL EVENTS TO HELP CELEBRATE:

10/26, 11am - 5pm 

Museum of Latin American Art | 628 Alamitos Ave, 90802

The theme for this year’s annual festival at MOLAA is Resilience. This is a free family-friendly event with sugar skull decorating, a folk art crafting table, live music and dancers, opportunities to purchase face painting, Latin American food and goods from local artisan vendors | molaa.org

11/1, 12:30pm - 3pm 

Bembridge House | 953 Park Circle Dr, 90813

Check out the historic, Victorian-style Bembridge House and celebrate Día de los Muertos with Mexican wedding cookies, pan dulce, and horchata. They will have a crafting table available where you can decorate frames to add to their community altar | lbheritage.org/bembridge-house 

11/1, 5pm - 10pm

Fuego at Hotel Maya | 700 Queens Way Dr, 90802

With incredible views of the Long Beach skyline, dine out at Fuego for their celebration. There will be live music, face painting, festive décor, and themed drink specials | hotelmayalongbeach.com/fuego-restaurant 

11/2, 7am - 11am

Viva La Vida 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | 5400 E. Ocean Blvd, 90803

Celebrate life and honor loved ones at the Day of the Dead–inspired beach run, where participants run/walk in Día de los Muertos-inspired attire with music, colorful backdrops, and a community altar honoring loved ones | runsignup.com/Race/CA/Longbeach/VivaLaVidaKKAndHalfMarathon

11/7, 6:30pm - 9:30pm

First Fridays in Bixby Knolls | 4321 Atlantic Ave, 90807

Check out their community altar and listen to live mariachi music while checking out First Fridays fun! | bixbyknollsinfo.com/events/first-fridays