CEDAR LAKE – Skeletons, skulls, marigolds and candles filled Sacred Heart Hall at Holy Name of Jesus on Oct. 18 for a joyful celebration of death known as Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.
While the actual holiday focused on family remembrances in homes and cemeteries decorated with altars and offerings to the spirits of their loved ones who have passed away is on Nov. 1, the parish chose to celebrate a bit early.
“We decided to bring out the spirituality of the season in advance of Halloween, which has become so secular,” said Cindy Varenkamp, parish director of liturgy and music. “We wanted an alternative that would draw people toward the spiritual meaning of the holiday.”
Varenkamp said the event was sponsored by the parish Evangelization Commission, which includes the Crafting with a Purpose, Hispanic, Parish Life, Communications and Youth ministries. “It is another effort to draw people to our church and evangelize,” she said.
The exhibit, which filled Sacred Heart Hall, featured a path of candles and paper marigolds – the traditional flower of Dia de los Muertos – that led visitors to tables that not only offered examples of the symbols of the day, but banners explaining the meaning of each. Upstairs in the church, a traditional Dia de los Muertos altar.
Leticia Kotso, who designed the exhibit, said her favorite symbol of the holiday is the photos of the beloved dead that are featured on the altars. “They bring a lot of sadness as they represent someone who is gone, but then you start laughing at the memories and that’s when the ofrenda comes to life,” she said as she pointed to a photo of her late father.
“Setting up these altars is truly a labor of love,” Kotso added. “You bring the photos, candles, marigolds and personal objects that represent things your loved one enjoyed in life. I’ve been setting up an ofrenda in my home for about 10 years.”
In one corner of the hall artist Maria Janes, originally from Ecuador, painted Dia de los Muertos symbols – flowers, hearts, spiderwebs and crosses – on the faces of children and adults. “Every painted face is unique, a living canvas that celebrates family, culture and faith,” said the banner next to Janes. “Face painting turns the living into joyful symbols of the dead.”
“The exhibits are used to educate people about the Dia de los Muertos altars, which are set up to welcome the souls of our loved ones back for the day,” said Varenkamp. “This is the first year we have hosted this celebration at Holy Name, and we were glad to do it. It seems like the people enjoyed participating in the crafts, reading about the holiday and eating the food.”
Caption: Maria Janes, an artist, paints the face of three-year-old Ezra Aguilar, son of Joel and Nicole Aguilar, of Crown Point, during the Dia de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 18 at Holy Name of Jesus in Cedar Lake. According to information exhibited at the event in Sacred Heart Hall, “face painting turns the living into joyful symbols of the dead.” Wearing a “calavera” design shows that life and death are forever joined. . (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
