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Día de los Muertos, celebrated on Nov. 2, is a Mexican tradition that commemorates the passing of loved ones in a joyful way rather than in a mournful way.
It is thought that the souls of the dearly departed come to visit their living loved ones to celebrate with them.
Día de los Muertos began as a pagan tradition of the indigenous people of Mexico and was later adopted by the Catholic Church to coincide with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
In Texas, the observation has been merged with the celebration of Halloween.
In Mexico, it is a tradition apart from Halloween.
During Día de los Muertos, there are only calaveras, or skulls. There are no ghosts, ghouls or witches as in Halloween.
Calaveras are also satirical poems written about people in the public eye who are still alive. This is all done in good humor. When these calaveras were first written, they were mainly about the monarchy and bishops.
Another big part of Día de los Muertos is setting up altars. These altars are usually filled with pictures and items of the loved ones who have died. Items may include personal belongings of the deceased or items that represent the things that they liked to do.
It is also customary to set out a glass of water to quench the thirst of the souls of the deceased because it is a long journey to get back to this world.
The altars are decorated with candles of saints as well.
Marigold petals are sprinkled from the doorways of a house to the place where the altar sits to guide the souls of the dead to the altar, where their loved ones await along with their favorite things and favorite foods.
These petals are traditionally used because, it is thought by some, the powerful aroma of the marigolds, or cempasúchil, attracts the souls to the altars. They are also what the indigenous people used when this tradition began.
Pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, is also set on the altar. It is brightly decorated bread shaped to look like a human body.
Tombstones of the deceased are also cleaned, decorated and visited on this day. There are candles, food, and pictures at the cemetery. People stay for a few hours then attend Mass.
This is a custom that Texans have adopted more so than making altars.
In Texas, altars are used more as a form of art, rather than as a way to observe Día de los Muertos.
Catholic Campus Minister Joseph Liedecke said the altars are "when culture meets religion."
Religion embraces culture, and they come together, he said.
The Catholic Student Association will be observing this tradition by hosting a Día de los Muertos workshop and a love letter activity at the Catholic Student Center at 12:15 p.m. Monday at the center, 312 Courtland Place.
Visual arts and technology Chair Richard Arredondo will speak on the origin of Día de los Muertos and show how to create your own altar.
Liedecke will conduct an activity on writing love letters to loved ones who have died. The letters will then be placed in a basket, which will go on the Catholic Student Center's altar. This year's altar is dedicated to former Counselor Rudy Ortiz who started the Rosary Society in 2003. He died Oct. 10, 2006.
The workshop and activity are free, and everyone is welcome.
Pan de muerto will be served.
For more information, call 736-3752.
