Last year’s event brought approximately 3,000 visitors.
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Sitting next to it there was a sign inviting everyone to grab a pen and a stick, write down the name of a loved one, a friend, or a pet and place the stick in the sand to honor them during Dia De Los Muertos.
“We want to show other people there’s more to the Day of the Dead than just candy or costumes, there’s other cultural things behind this”, Aguire said.
Old Town’s event was among several that took place throughout the county, including Sherman Heights, Emerald Hills, Encinitas, Escondido and National City.
In Mexico and Central America, mariachi bands typically perform in cemeteries to serenade the spirits during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.
It is the 7th annual event and a year ago more than 7,000 locals attended to the celebration.
In Mexico, oftentimes different families come together to celebrate in big groups. “Our location is absolutely wonderful. They help us out you know they guide us a lot”.
“It’s important not to confuse Halloween with Dia de los Muertos, which is very spiritual”, and festive, MVMC outreach and service director Leticia Bentley said.
“The cycle of life and death is inevitable so we may as well enjoy our time while we’re living.”
“Skeletons mean death, and death is not to be feared”, Lopez said.
Día de los Muertos was first celebrated during the 16th century and even now remains one of the most important and celebrated holidays in the Latino community. The proceeds go toward event permits and getting appropriate supplies, such as trash cans and compost bins, and also flowers and decorations for the altars.
Fullerton College’s Dia De Los Muertos event allowed students to showcase their culture while honoring loved ones.
She said she is still heartbroken over the loss of her 10-year-old son Ivan.
Evangelina Calvillo was brought to tears talking about her 84-year-old father Agustin. He told Insight’s Beth Ruyak that one of the holiday’s traditions includes going to the cemetery and laying out the favorite foods of the deceased. “I see a lot of the sugar skulls, I see a lot of like the design everything”. “They are not all Mexican, because this is really kind of a Mexican holiday”, Pilon said.
And, as Halloween approaches, here’s our gallery and video of talented beauty therapist Sarah Douglas showing how you can create your own sugar skulls make-up.
A farmers’ market, Mexican food, grave decorating and numerous vendors selling a range of goods from clothing to jewelry will provide plenty to do at the cemetery.
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Hosted by the organization “Mano a Mano”, the event on Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. will raise awareness about Mexican culture.
