By Marta Jantzi
Dia de los Muertos consists of many extravagant traditions from painting sugar skulls to eating pan de muerto, a traditional sweet bread made and eaten in honor of the dead. The sugar skulls originates all the way back to the Aztecs who used it to decorate because it was an ingredient they had plenty of.
For Lesly Tello, one of the most important parts of the holiday is making of “ofrendas,” a collection of objects placed on a ritual display to honor the family members that have passed on to the afterlife.
“I am excited to do this because this because I really enjoy this part about the holiday,” Tello said. “So I want to be able to bring it with me wherever I am living.”
Although Halloween may be the first holiday that comes to most Americans’ minds when they think of October, Dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead) is just as festive. A Mexican holiday lasts from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, Dia de los muertos is most commonly celebrated in the central and southern regions of Mexico.
But you will also be seeing it here in Hesston, as Tello brings the holiday tradition to campus. Tello is from Kansas, but of Mexican descent: Her mother is from Chihuahua and father is from Oaxaca.
For those who celebrate this holiday, one of the most important parts is being with family, reflecting on loved ones from the past together. Being away from family during a holiday based on spending time with loved ones can be pretty difficult. But Tello seemed to have a positive outlook on how she was going to celebrate Dia de los Muertos this year.
“To be able to talk to my family on this day I’m going to call them and talk to them on the phone,” Tello said. “Even though I usually talk to them every day, It will still be even more special.”