Día de los Muertos celebrated at CVHS

Beautiful sugar skulls, face painting and Latin music highlighted the annual CVHS Día de los Muertos celebration held in the cafeteria on Nov. 2. Students and adults alike enjoyed traditional activities, food, and drink.

“Getting my face painted makes me feel so much more connected to Día de los Muertos,” said sophomore attendee Joanna Escobedo.

Día de los Muertos gives Latino communities a chance to unify and come together. It originated in Mexico and is Spanish for “Day of the Dead.”  For centuries, this holiday has been celebrated across Latin America, to commemorate passed loved ones.

 Deco Club, Latinos Unidos and Puente collaborated to make this event enjoyable for school families, with the help of many student volunteers. As people celebrated and listened to lively Latin music, many of the coordinators expressed their pleasure with the turnout of Día de los Muertos. 

“It’s always a pleasure working with other clubs,” said junior Renata Gutierrez, co-president of Deco Club and editor for The Olympian. 

The event featured many traditional symbols: papel picado, candles, incense and pictures of loved ones. Ofrendas for family members and friends were set up on the cafeteria stage. Many people were also seen dressed up and taking photos in front of their ofrendas. Additionally, food and drinks were given out, including horchata and tacos as well as cookies and brownies.

“When I walked in, I could smell the food and I got in a line and I saw so many other people starting to gather,” said sophomore attendee Emily Roan.

Families walked under the marigold entrance with smiles on their faces that lasted throughout the entire event. These symbols made the event very welcoming and gave an at-home feeling.

“When I walked into the entrance I recognized so many symbols and traditions I grew up with,” said sophomore attendee Miah Zielke.

With this year’s Día de los Muertos a success, the event’s organizers are looking ahead to the future.

“Seeing everyone have fun makes the hard work pay off,” reflected Gutierrez. “I can’t wait to continue this tradition next year.”