So you saw Coco, now what? Learn the cultural and spiritual significance of the holiday. Students, faculty, and the BYU community are invited to participate in the Día de los Muertos virtual celebration.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday blending Mesoamerican and Catholic European traditions to commemorate loved ones who have passed away. To honor these ancestors, an altar or ofrenda is built to offer safe passage to the souls of those who have passed to visit once a year. Food offerings, sweets, beverages, flowers, toys (for children), and holy symbols are placed on the altar, along with photos of loved ones, to invite the spirits to join us once again for a happy celebration.

The most recognized and ornate Día de los Muertos traditions are found in Mexico. Recently, it has become increasingly popular among Latino communities worldwide, especially in the United States.

How to participate:

Participate 26 October – 2 November, 2020 on Instagram.

Follow @byukennedycenter on Instagram to learn more of the history and symbols of the holiday.

Share photos of your family altar on Instagram and use the hashtag #byudiadelosmuertos or #byudayofthedead.  Feel free to tell us about your ancestors and passed loved ones, what you would tell them if they were here, and show us the ofrenda you have prepared for them.

Wear a free calavera pin you can pick up at the Kennedy Center (room 101) on November 2.

Questions? Contact rita_cortez@byu.edu, (801) 471-7114 or aaron_rose@byu.edu, (801) 422-8241.

Sponsored by the Kennedy Center and the College of Humanities.

To Download a copy of the brochure click here.