.jpg?w=535 "Skulls and handcrafts in a galllery of La Plaza México, in Lynwood, where a big celebration of The Day of the Dead will be held.")
Marigolds, skulls with eyes peeled, feathered dancers, mariachis, “norteño” bands, makeup artist, tamales and atole … Everything you need to ward off the gloom of death, to honor the past and establish Latin traditions that have rooted in southern California.
The Day of the Dead in Southern California is an event that has brought together the most diverse cultural manifestations, from a book fair at the College of East Los Angeles, to a massive event in Coachella with Tucanes de Tijuana.
But we must recognize that the “natural” place of the dead is the cemeteries. So celebrations in the Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles and the Hollywood Forever in Santa Monica are the most emblematic.
“For us, this event is more educational,” says Brian McMahon, director of the 11 Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The free event in the Calvary (4201 Whittier Blvd.) will start at 3 pm and will feature a procession, altars and mariachi music around 8 pm.
The results from this first celebration could lead to other Catholic cemeteries.
Its counterpart is the festival that for 15 years has been done in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, also on November 1, with three scenarios where Carla Morrison, La Santa Cecilia, Gaby Moreno, Los Cenzontles and Mariachi Divas of Cindy Shea (24:00 to 12 AM, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd) will be presented.
In order to celebrate the traditional Day of the Dead again and to preserve and disseminate the Mexican traditions in America, Plaza Mexico and Mexican Communities Federations, will present on November 1 and 2 a Sample of Altars and Offerings in accordance to traditions of each of its states, with the participation of Puebla, Oaxaca, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Hidalgo, Veracruz and Yucatan.
“One of the most beautiful traditions of Mexico is the celebration of Day of the Dead, which takes place on November 2 nd. On this day, Mexican families visit the graves of their relatives in the cemeteries, clean and paint the tombstones, put marigolds and lilies and put offering on places” says a document.
In a contest that takes place with offerings, some of the most striking are those provided by the Oaxacan community, who traditionally earn the first place. In the Plaza Olvera, even though today has plenty of competition, offerings are made by the merchants association. The advantage is that they sell products that could appear in the offerings. There will be processions, dance, food, music, craft workshops…
The popular Mexican tradition has become so widespread that public parks use it as a form of civic engagement festival. The Grand Park (between Grand and Hill Ave.), Downtown Los Angeles, 3: 00- 10:00 pm will be held for the first time this date, where public officials such as Supervisor Gloria Molina, Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti and Councilman Jose Huizar will have their altars.
Some of the organizations that will be presented are: Young Inc., Self Help Graphics, Home Boy Industries, LGBT Center The opportunity for corporate entertainment has become notorious in the Coachella festival, where concerts will be held with groups like La Santa Cecilia, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Conjunto Primavera, Los at Rancho Las Flores Park (48350 Van Buren St.) Tenth Avenue North, Banda Machos, Angeles Ochoa, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles … In the College of East Los Angeles, the 15 th Los Angeles Latino Book & Family Festival will take place with special readings of Victor Villaseñor and Luis Rodriguez (1 Nov., 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, FREE Admission and Parking).
