The Brave News

by Emilio Ceja and Matthew Ruiz

Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Hispanic Holiday that is celebrated from October 31st through November 2nd. Every year this event is celebrated throughout Mexico, some parts of Central America and some parts of the United States, including our own community at St. John Bosco High School, which celebrated the event last Wednesday in the quad. 

The Mexican Culture believes the Dia De Los Muertos to be a time of remembrance and honor to their loved ones who have passed. They also believe the spirits of those who have passed return to be with their families. The way families remember their loved ones is by making a shrine or altar that contains pictures of who has passed, with their favorite foods, flowers, candles and other mementos that represents the deceased.

There are many ways cities celebrate Dia De Los Muertos from concerts, festivals, parades and food trucks. In Mexico, there are a lot of cities that have big celebrations or fiestas to celebrate the holiday. In the United States, some well-known cities that celebrate this holiday are Los Angeles, San Diego, El Paso and New York City. These cities host large parades to highlight celebrations.

At Bosco, the Spanish Honors Society hosts our annual Dia De Los Muertos Fiesta, which offers many different activities for the students, their friends and families. The event had food, music, altars and snacks and desserts being sold by clubs from around Bosco.

A major part of the fiesta were the altar displays that were put together by the Bosco community. These altars displayed loved ones who had passed away and, in Mexican tradition, featured the deceased favorite foods, candles and skulls to show reverence and respect.

The Spanish classes at Bosco each put together an altar with each student bringing in at least one picture of a loved one that passed away. Not only did the Spanish classes make altars, but the Latino Heritage Club (i.e. the “Compa” Club) and the Spanish Honors Society each made an altar of their own.

The atmosphere of the Dia de Los Muertos was one of happiness and cheer. With music being played in the background, many got up to dance. The event hosted a mariachi who played songs from the Disney movie Coco along with junior Travien Sears playing “Recuerdame” another famous song from the Disney movie on the saxophone.

Students enjoyed the event and most stayed throughout the entire evening to enjoy all the festivities.

For both Bosco and St. Joseph’s students, such as junior Mariana Covarrubias, who attended with her family, Dia De Los Muertos allowed for a combined experience of culture and togetherness.

“I enjoyed the altars with all of the pictures on them, and the Mariachi got my entire family up to dance,” said Mariana.

Isaac Rutz, a senior at ,attended the event to support his friends and had some of his family members that had passed away displayed at the altars that were set up.

“I felt that the Dia De Los Muertos festival was a beautiful time in which the Bosco and Joseph’s community could come together to remember those we lost. The altars, food and dance were all amazing,” said Rutz.

The fiesta had a large turnout, with many enjoying the tacos and burritos that were for sale well into the night. Along with the sale of tacos and burritos, multiple clubs including the Spanish Honors Society, The French Club, and the “Compa” Club sold other deserts, like nutella croissants, snacks, like Nachos, and drinks, like aguas frescas. The inclusion of a face painting station also allowed for kids to enjoy the fiesta along with their parents.

A chance to enjoy the company of family and friends and the ability to share culture with others is what the annual Dia de Los Muertos Fiesta is about at St. John Bosco High School.