Traditional holiday honoring the dead begins this evening

The Arizona Historical Society, 949 E. Second St., will celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday, D”a de los Muertos - Day of the Dead.

The University of Arizona Center for Global Student Programs is sponsoring the event, which begins at 6 p.m.

"The Day of the Dead is like our Halloween but with a different perspective," said Spanish studies sophomore Cara Cameli, student director of the event.

The holiday began thousands of years ago in Mexico to honor the deceased through rituals, dances and ceremonies.

In the 16th century, traditional Catholic holidays merged with the Day of the Dead, evolving into a two-day annual Mexican holiday Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

The first day acknowledges the loss of children and the second day pays tribute to deceased adults.

People present food, flowers and photographs, making shrines to remember those they have lost.

Photographs of rituals and ornate altars will be on display at the Arizona Historical Society tonight.

"The exhibit provides an excellent opportunity for international students to learn about this unique celebration, which has both indigenous Indian roots and Spanish-Catholic influences," said David Currey, director of International Student Programs and Services at the UA Center for Global Student Programs.

While Americans carve pumpkins, Dia de los Muertos celebrators decorate with skeletons.

"During the holiday, people poke fun at death and laugh at it but at the same time don't want to forget those they have lost," Cameli said.

Trick-or-treating is replaced with Mexican delights, such as sugared skulls and bread called "Pan de Muerto," which is believed to contain a deceased loved one's soul.

"American society likes to close out death," Cameli said. "With this holiday Mexicans don't feel sorrow remembering people from the past - it brings happiness because you appreciate the people still with you."

Mexicans believe eating the bread brings the dead back to life for one day.

In Mexico during the holiday, cemeteries look more like huge parties, with traditional marigold flowers adorning gravestones, gates and walls. Sweet sugar cane is placed everywhere, and masses of emotionally-charged visitors come to the grave sites, Cameli said.

"It is an ancient celebration of the spiritual bond between the living and the dead," Currey said.

The event is one of the many events planned under the new program, Coat of Many Colors: Expressions of Faith in Southern Arizona, which is funded by the United States Information Agency through a grant Currey applied for.

"The Coat of Many Colors program will give international students insight to the unique aspects of Arizona's history and culture through a series of site visits to historical places, local congregations, interfaith organizations and Native American tribes," he said.

Fifteen of the 30 slots to attend tonight's event remain open. Those interested can sign up at the Center for Global Student Programs.

Genevieve D. Cruise can be reached via e-mail at Genevieve.D.Cruise@wildcat.arizona.edu.