To celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead, the Millsaps Anthropology Club collaborated with the Spanish Club and the Mississippi Hispanic Association to bring a two-part cultural event to the Millsaps campus. On Wednesday, October 30, the clubs presented Food for the Ancestors, a film that introduced viewers to the rich customs of the Días de los Muertos through investigating the traditional foods eaten by participants during the holiday. The clubs also created an ofrenda, or altar, in the college center lobby. Visitors were encouraged to add photographs of their loved ones to the display, as a token of respect and love for their memory.

The holiday of the Day of the Dead is one of the greatest examples of the Indigenous/Spanish mixture that makes up Mexican culture. The Spanish conquistadores attempted to reconcile the “pagan” elements of Aztec rituals during the month of Miccailhuitontli by changing the date of the celebration to coincide with All Saints’ Day, thus creating a blend of Spanish and ancient traditions. On November 1 each year, many Mexican families visit the graves of their departed loved ones. They spend the night by the graveside, sharing their memories of the deceased with one another. For those who practice it, El Día de los Muertos is a way of honoring the dead. It is a day of memorial and celebration, not a morbid holiday (like our own Halloween!).

Another traditional component of this holiday is the creation and decoration of ofrendas, or altars, dedicated to the memory of loved ones who have passed away. The offerings of food that are often found on these ofrendas are usually chosen because they were the favorite snacks enjoyed by the deceased when they were alive. The colorful decorations are a way of celebrating life. The art, especially the colorful and unique clay calavera figurines, depict death in a satirical light. The humorous depictions of skeletons involved in daily activities may serve to remind us that death is ever present and inevitable; it is a natural part of life. It may also remind the viewer that in the end, we are all equally mortal; but for now, let us enjoy life!

A view of the Millsaps Anthropology and Spanish Clubs' ofrenda

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