UNM’s El Centro de la Raza is collaborating with Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to bring a celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to campus this fall.

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Lobos and the campus community are invited to join in the three-day commemoration for loved ones from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday originating from Mexico that can date back as far as 3000 years. Serving as a celebration of life and death, Día de los Muertos is celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

UNM’s celebration will start with sugar skull decorating at El Centro on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sugar skulls, which have become a well-known symbol of Día de los Muertos represent departed souls. Small skulls are placed on ofrendas (altars) for children who have passed on Nov. 1 while bigger skulls are used for adults on Nov. 2.

El Centro will also host special guest Luis Alberto Perez Cardenas to join participants on Oct. 27 for The Art of Papel Picado from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Papel Picado has a few meanings when it comes to Día de los Muertos, some believe that the fragility of the paper symbolizes how fragile life can be.

Ending the celebration on Oct. 28 will be ‘Mihcailhuitl: What is Día de los Muertos?’ with guest speaker Jorge Garcia and Celebración del Día de los Muertos. The ‘Mihcailhuitl: What is Día de los Muertos?’ discussion will be facilitated through zoom from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Participants can then attend Celebración del Día de los Muertos from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. located at El Centro.

For more information on the history of Día de los Muertos, click here.