The University News

Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Culture

Media Credit: Mark Linville Traditional Dia de los Muertos decorations on display during Dia de los Muertos.

During this time of year, a lot is heard about ghosts and spirits, whether it's from the latest scary movie or a popular American holiday.

Traditionally, Americans celebrate Halloween as a way to ward off evil spirits and ghosts. Masks and goofy costumes are worn to mock and intimidate the spirits.

In Mexico, however, Dia de los Muertos is just the opposite. The people celebrate for 48 hours to honor their deceased loved ones and ancestors.

Nov.. 2 is "The Day of the Dead," and Nov. 3 is "All Saints Day."

An event was held Nov. 3 in Pierson Auditorium to commemorate these days of celebration. The cultural event was brought to UMKC by the student group MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Azetlan). Along with the Guadalupe Center, these students hosted an evening full of art and culture.

"MEChA hosted the Dia de los Muertos event in hopes to achieve awareness and education about cultural celebrations that Latino communities do - from the sybolism of the altars to the bone-like figure of pan de muerto, this tradition has been celebrated since colonization of Latin America," MEChA President Syra Gordillo said. "Our indigenous ancestors honored their dead hundreds of years before the Spanish came to present-day Mexico."

The celebration included the Latino Writer's collective, a local group of Latino authors. The group recited poetry telling the story of Dia de los Muertos. The poems created an emotional energy and a sense of the Mexican tradition.

Along with poetry readings, performances of the traditional dances called Baile Folklórico (or Folkloric dance) were shown to educate the audience about the ancient origins of the tradition.

Ballet Folklorico Mexico de los Hermanos Avila is a group founded for the sole purpose of educating people about the traditions.

They wore traditional head dresses and gowns as they performed each ritual dance. These dances showed how the ancient Aztec people honored the Aztec ruler Cuauhtemoc, who died in battle, and the Princess Erendria.

"Ballet Folklorico Mexico de los Hermanos Avila perform these dances in order to preserve their cultura and tradition," Gordilla said. "Their elaborate costumes, drumming and words spoken in Nauhatl (indigenous language) leave a great impression of what the indigenous talent brings. They honor the natives from the Americas and share some history that Jesus Avila, group director, says is sometimes forgotten."

Dia de los Muertos, like many cultural events on campus, aims to spread awareness of all cultural backgrounds at UMKC.

There are more than just Halloween and Christmas traditions alive at UMKC. Multi-cultural groups like MEChA work to let everyone know culture is what makes UMKC grow.

mlinville@unews.com

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