A deeply rooted tradition rich in meaning
Culturally, traditionally, and historically, the Day of the Dead is a very important holiday in Mexican culture. It is celebrated, as ironic as it may seem, with joy, music, laughter, and lots of makeup! Colorful with festivities, this annual event allows people to remember the dead while celebrating the living.
Mexicans have been celebrating this holiday for over half a millennium. It is intended to honor deceased ancestors and show courage and joy in the face of death.
This tradition is very important to us in Mexico because it blends pre-Hispanic beliefs with the Catholic religion brought by the Spanish. It shows how we honor and commemorate our deceased loved ones.
- Chiemi LIRA HERNÁNDEZ, TEC de Monterrey student chaperone
Skeletons and colors
A very colorful and richly decorated celebration, the students from our partner institution TEC de Monterrey wanted to introduce their tradition to the students at UCLy. The ILCF cultural activities department and the ESTRI “world cultures” activities manager therefore organized a decoration workshop to prepare for this event. The idea was to create an altar displaying the different “calaveras” (“skulls” in Spanish, which today refers to the entire skeleton), as well as other decorative pieces created during the workshop.
The “calavera” is the most recognizable symbol of the Day of the Dead. It is a skeleton typically dressed in a costume or dress, with colorful floral patterns on its head.
To fully integrate this tradition into the UCLy event landscape, our TEC students shared this activity with Spanish LVB (second modern language) students from ESTRI - the School of Translation and International Relations at UCLy. This allowed them to converse in Spanish and fully appreciate the work involved in preparing such an event, while learning all about the subtleties of decoration, writing poems, and the overall significance of the Day of the Dead in Mexican culture.
Working on this event allowed me to feel close to my country, even though I was far away, so it meant a lot to me. It reminded me of where I came from and gave me a sense of comfort and identity. Being far away can sometimes feel strange, so sharing a little bit of my culture helped me feel grounded and proud of my roots.
- Emilio MORALES CÓRDOVA, TEC de Monterrey student
Showing my tradition to people from a different culture felt meaningful because they were curious, respectful, and open to learning. It wasn't just about explaining my culture, but also seeing how they understood it and added their own perspectives. It felt like a true cultural exchange, which made the activity more rewarding, fun, and memorable.
- Emilio MORALES CÓRDOVA
The final presentation!
The Mexican students from ILCF and the students from ESTRI set up the altar in the campus lobby, decorated with everything that had been made during the preparation workshops. This altar remained in place for a week, accompanied by explanatory texts about the celebration and the meaning of the decorative elements.
I hope that the students who see this altar will understand that in Mexico, death is not something sad, but a time to celebrate life. The altar is full of colors and symbols that show love and respect. I want them to see how we transform pain into memories and joy.
- Chiemi LIRA HERNÁNDEZ
