Day of the Dead celebrated at WMU

Dja De Muertos: Day of the Dead, an annual holiday celebrated in Mexican tradition. Teaching Assistants of Western Michigan University involved with the Multicultural Center created a traditional remembrance alter of Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009) in Trimpe Building on WMU’s campus. This is the only public alter in Kalamazoo this year. Marissa Ingle/Western Herald

By Alexander Paul
Western Herald

Yesterday, local Kalamazoo high schools and elementary schools began to come to Western Michigan University’s Trimpe Distributive Education Building. The attraction: an altar dedicated to Mercedes Sosa, a popular Argentine singer both internationally and throughout Latin America, in accordance with the focused celebration of Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead.

Every Nov. 1 and 2, the altar of one specific deceased family member is prepared per family. In cemeteries families bring marigolds and the deceased’s favorite foods as a method of sending gifts to the afterlife. The altar consists of seven steps, each one representing a step forward in the journey towards heaven, the bottom, the first step, bears the catholic cross, a symbol of the merging of this tradition between Spanish Catholicism and ancient Aztec ritual.

This is the only altar in a public place in Kalamazoo. Mike Ramírez, assistant director of Multicultural Affairs liaison to the College of Business and University Curriculum, said it is an advantage to have only one because it is a unique experience and gives a reason for so many people to come to one area. Although this is the only altar in this city, the Day of the Dead is much more popular in other parts of the United States.

“I’ve lived here for 40 years,” said Ramirez, looking at the altar, reminded of home. “It’s a link to the culture; my roots.” Whereas American cultures seem to focus on the loss of a family member or loved one, Mexico holds it as a celebration.

Justin Carunchia, a graduate student studying and teaching Spanish at WMU, said many Spanish students will visit the alter. Carunchia himself studied abroad in Mexico twice, once in 2007 as an undergrad and once as a graduate this past summer in 2009. “[The altar is a] way for us to get to know [Mexicans] better.”

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Nov 2 2009. Filed under Breaking, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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