SAN MARCOS — Students and staff at San Elijo Middle School came together to celebrate Día de los Muertos this year through arts, crafts and the building of large community ofrendas to remember loved ones who have passed away.
On Nov. 1, all of San Elijo Middle’s approximately 1,400 students visited the Performing Arts Center, which had been transformed with several large, colorful ofrendas, or altars, honoring the loved ones of students and staff members.
The event was organized by the school’s Spanish department, particularly the leadership of 17-year Spanish teacher Nancy Murray. While she always recognizes Día de los Muertos in her classroom, the department was able to expand it into a school-wide celebration this year after receiving funding for an “authentic learning experience” from the San Marcos Unified School District.
“It’s really so important that all of our students feel connected,” Murray said. “For us, it’s a celebration of the life cycle.”
Several classes contributed to the event. Nicholas Fitzgerald’s sixth-grade art class created paper “lanterns” that lined the path through the display, as well as paper calaveras, or sugar skulls. Spanish teacher Lisa Campillo’s class made nichos, or 3-D display boxes, out of toilet paper rolls to honor loved ones.
While many students already celebrate Día de los Muertos with their families, others were participating in the holiday for the first time.
Sixth grader Kennedy Lowder created a tribute to her great-grandmother that was featured on one of the ofrendas. The tribute described her love for cooking and how she is in a better place now. Kennedy said she enjoyed contributing to the ofrenda along with other members of the school community.
“I wrote about my great-grandma, and I kind of wrote about how she loved to cook. It felt good, and then when I showed it to my family — it’s my papa’s mom — he really liked it,” Lowder said. “I’ve never really experienced it [Día de los Muertos] … It’s just so pretty with everyone’s stuff.”
Substitute teacher Monica Hidalgo Ruiz created her own ofrenda for the school event, honoring several generations of her family as well as her nephew. As students walked through, she explained her family history and the significance of the different items on the altar.
“It’s quite emotional for a lot of us, but it’s such a wonderful celebration,” Ruiz said.
One of the ofrendas was specifically for pets and featured photos and drawings of students’ furry friends who have crossed over. Another staff member created an ofrenda focused on the traditions of Oaxaca.
Sixth grader Mia Hawkins said she learned a lot about Día de los Muertos, including how marigold flowers lead spirits back into the world and how food can be placed on altars.
“I learned it’s not a sad thing. It’s celebrating people who have died and it’s, like, celebrating time together,” Hawkins said.
Día de los Muertos, translated as “Day of the Dead” in English, is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, the dates when the dead are believed to return to visit their loved ones. The holiday has roots that date back 3,000 years to pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.
