Day of the Dead Ofrenda

Back by popular demand!  Led by LAL office coordinator Verónica Sánchez, the staff of the LAL will prepare an altar celebrating the Day of the Dead, traditionally observed on All Soul’s Day, November 2, when we honor departed loved ones who have passed away.  In Mexico, it is a time to remember the dead, but it is not a solemn occasion!  Rather, it’s a chance to poke fun at our own inevitable death, to express love, and to encourage the departed to return once more for a little while and visit with their family and friends.  A mixture of pre-colonial rituals and Western Catholicism, it is a community event, a special occasion, and we invite you to join us in the fun!  Come by between October 23 and November 17 to see the ofrenda in the LAL special collections reading room and gallery.  This year’s theme is “La cantina.”  Look for more information as the time draws near.  There will also be free postcards of calaveras by Mexican graphic artist José Guadalupe Posada and a book display to accompany the exhibit.  Come take a postcard; check out a book!  We leave you with this informative and entertaining video made by LAL staff in 2020 (in Spanish with English subtitles), when we honored those who had lost their lives to Covid 19. 

Watch The Day of the Dead at The Latin American Library - Día de muertos en la Biblioteca Latinoamericana