Local businesses celebrate Day of the Dead | News, sports, work

TR PHOTO: ROBERT MAHARRY The Day of the Dead exhibit is located at Lara’s Bakery, 701 N. 3rd Ave. Ste. C. Lara’s is one of a handful of local businesses celebrating Latin America this weekend.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), celebrated throughout Latin America, is observed on November 1 and 2, with celebrations sometimes lasting an entire week. In Marshalltown, a group of business owners have banded together to bring these traditions to the public.

Yesenia Paz, owner of Yessy’s Creations and Yessy’s Animations, came up with the idea of ​​organizing the Day of the Dead celebration at Mojito Restaurant on Thursday and Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at Lara’s Bakery 3 on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. be live at Mojito. She said her children, Lewis and Stephanie Reyes, will be dressed as characters from the children’s movie “Coco” and will have their photos taken at both locations. The film focuses on 12-year-old Miguel, who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead, where he contacts his great-great-grandfather – the plot is inspired by the Day of the Dead.

In these places, altars, or “ofrenda”, will be set up, on which offerings for the deceased will be made, such as fruit, flowers, sugar skulls, water and candles. We encourage you to bring photos of your deceased loved ones to the exhibition.

Paz, a native of Guatemala, said All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) – celebrated by many Christian churches – have similar significance in honoring the dead.

“Day of the Dead is a tradition where we believe the dead come to us and visit us and we are together in spirit,” Paz said.

Juan C. Dominguez, owner of Mojito at 3303 S. Center St., said he and his manager, Feliciano Galindo, are from the Mexican city of Puebla and are used to celebrating the Day of the Dead. He explained that each element of the offering had a special meaning.

“Cempasúchil (marigolds) flowers are considered the ‘flower of the dead’ because they wither quickly when cut, symbolizing the journey from the world of the living to the world of the dead,” he said. “The candles symbolize the fire that lights the way for souls to return home. Sugar skulls represent the deceased. The bread of the dead refers to the skeleton of the deceased, and the water signifies the purity of the soul and eliminates the thirst of the deceased.

Children will receive free sweets and desserts at Mojito, and Lara’s will give away bags of mini bread and sweets.

Gabriella Cano, who co-owns Lara’s Bakery with her sister Patcy Castillo, said they wanted to participate in the public Day of the Dead display because it is a holiday their Mexican family also celebrates every year.

“We have an altar dedicated to our family members who have passed away. We set up an altar with water, lights, fruit, salt and bread, and then we add things they liked before,” Cano explained.

Castillo added that they set up the altar on October 26 because the next day was to honor the animals that had passed away.

“Through November 2, every day there is a specific person you honor,” she said.

Some people follow this schedule:

October 27: We remind you of deceased animals.

October 28: Dedicated to those who died violently, in accidents or as victims of crime.

October 30 and 31: An altar is set up for children who died without baptism and for those who could not be born.

November 1: Dedicated to children who have died.

November 2: Dedicated to adults who have died.

November 3: The offerings are taken down.

People also visit cemeteries, where they clean the graves of their loved ones and build altars on tombstones.

“For me personally, it’s about keeping traditions alive and thinking positively about loved ones and their memories – celebrating, honoring, and not just mourning – honoring the best part of the people who have passed away. They are still part of the family and the family knows they still exist,” Castillo said.

Paz said she hopes to grow the event every year.

“I wanted most of the local Marshalltown businesses to participate in the project. I wanted it to be a big deal, but unfortunately only two companies got involved,” she said. “We’ll do it anyway.”