– This photo was at the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration, in El Centro De La Raza’s Seattle, WA. Taken by Group 9 , UW students in GWSS 451 on November 1 2019. The capture represents People from different cultures sitting on one table and enjoying Mexican food tradition lunch altogether.

In the capture there are many people who have different cultural backgrounds and personal identities. They are all sharing one table, and they were all enjoying eating one type of food that represents Mexican food tradition. I personally never tried Mexican food before, when I tried it in the altar/ ofrenda event, I found out it is very similar to the Middle Eastern food which is wonderful. The people were having fun talking to one another and celebrating the Altar/ Ofrenda honoring the memory of the people who have passed away.

I just followed a crowd of people being lead of dia de los muertos folklorico dancers. I followed these dancers to the unknown. I slowly realized i was being lead into a performance room. I heard the tune of the iconic, political rallying song “It’s immigration time” by El Vez. El Vez is an iconic Mexican/ Chicano Elvis impersonator. That alters various classic rock ballads into songs describing the chicano experience. He was wearing a beautiful green, white and red mariachi suit with the Mexican eagle printed on his back. The people in the crowd consisted of various colors, ethnicity and cultures. This event was a magnificent experience celebrating what it means to be chicanx resisting the migra with diverse open minded family and friends.

-This photo was at the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration, in El Centro De La Raza’s Seattle, WA. Taken by Group 9 , UW students in GWSS 451 on November 1 2019. The capture represents SIEU 6 service that protect workers rights.

At the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration event, this altar is representing an honor for the SEIU 6, which is labor Union in Seattle that being founded by group to protect the rights of the employees. SEIU 6 present over 7,500 workers in Washington State. SEIU 6 is diverse service membership that present immigrants workforce as well.

This event was a really great experience for me. Having grown up in Hawaii, I was very fortunate to be able to experience a great fusion of cultures, from Hawaiian culture to Japanese culture. However, there wasn’t a huge population of Latinx people, so I knew very little of the culture. The biggest factor as to why I decided to take the Latina Cultural Production class, was to learn more. This has led to me to attend the Dia De Los Muertos event. This was the first time I experienced a Day of the Dead celebration. Whether it was my groupmates speaking their own language to the people stopping by our altar or the kids celebrating this day with their family, I witnessed the strong Latinx culture surronding Dia De Los Muertos and I am very appreciative of this opportunity to be a part of this event.

The picture above is of our altar which commemorates the children who passed while in custody of immigration.

We are group 5.

At the Dio De Los Muertos event, at the bottom floor of El Centro, we had the opportunity to experience part of the culture through its food. There were an array of foods ranging from mole, arroz, frijoles, and a selection of desserts, from arroz con leche, to champurrado, pan dulce, and handfuls of candy. After this, there was a musical procession bringing the event participants from El Centro to the centillion building, followed by folkloric dancing performances. No doubt, this event highlighted the beauty of Latin art, narration of silent stories, and traditions like sugar skull costumes, live music, and the celebration of unity within Latinos remembering loved ones, forgotten ones, and ones who continue la lucha. We couldn’t have had a better experience in El Centro de la Raza.

The picture above is a picture of the band leading people to the procession!

We are group 5.

November 1st, 2019 – 6:30pm

El Centro is packed! It is just as lively outside as it is inside, people are currently eating el pan de muerto and hot chocolate, provided by El Centro. Additionally, performances are occurring, right now a clown dressed in full Dia De Los Muertos attire is doing a comedy act. By the entrance of El Centro people are selling panchos, food, and art, all in the spirit of Dia de Los Muertos. I asked the couple pictured up above what “Dia de Los Muertos meant to them,” they began to explain how its a day of remembrance, and not a day to be sad. Further on explaining how people should not be afraid of death, but rather embrace it. It’s a day to celebrate those who have left us, but also remember the beautiful soul and presences they left on earth.

Here we see a cross-section of students from the Latina culture class eating and chatting in the cafeteria. Currently, there are many people enjoying the free food given out. This is essential because it shows that there is a sense of community and support at this event. This will also encourage people to come together and share a meal while learning the significance of this event. People of all different races and cultures are here, but we all have a common purpose of observing what is happening in our society and how it impacts different groups around us. I am personally enjoying the food and the different conversations that are happening here, and I can say many people feel the same.

October 30th, 2019 – 3:30

As a group, we put the final touches on our altar, focusing on the aspect of Selena’s most memorable accents. We placed flowers, sage, candles, and la calavera on the first level of our altar, representing the underworld. While the second level, earth, we placed water, bread, lip gloss, and a picture of Selena. On the last level, heaven, we placed a rosary in remembrance of Selena and her spirit coming back. 

November 1st, 2019 5:34

We began the ceremony, walked around and saw other altars. Once we walked around we went down to the basement to enjoy some mole con pollo. The group in the picture is the Latina Cultural Production class from the University of Washington, discussing the importance, liveliness, beauty, and togetherness that today, El Dia De Los Muertos has brought.