Dust off your marigold headdresses, friends: It’s Día de los Muertos time. Different than Halloween (haunty) and All Saints’ Day (reverent), the Day of the Dead honors the memories of loved ones who have passed with ofrendas (altars), sugar skulls, parades, and a sense that, while sad, death is inevitable and not to be feared. At the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 Fourth Street SW) on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., contribute your creativity and memories to the community ofrenda . Presented as part of the continuing LAND/ART series, the theme of the project is "Seed of Souls" and recognizes the cycles of planting and harvesting along with that of human life. Head to the outside stairs at Plaza Mayor for music and hot chocolate while paying respect to those who’ve sown what we now reap.Later that night at NHCC, stay for Noche de Muertos: Welcoming our Ancestors Home with Sol y Canto, a multimedia presentation featuring live music, images and rituals of Mexican Día de los Muertos celebrations. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $25. To purchase tickets or get more information, go to nhccnm.org or call 246-2261.Also on Friday, Oct. 30, the South Broadway Cultural Center (1025 Broadway SE) hosts Día de los Muertos, presented by Casa De Cultura. The celebration includes poetry by Danny Solis, Jessica López, Jaíme Chávez and more. There will be music by Lucia Verónica Carmona, Los Jaraneros del Valle and Josh Baca with his accordion, whose name I don’t know. And if somehow you feel that poetry and music aren’t entertainment enough, there’s the dance of Grupo Coatlicue Danza Azteca Chichimeca de Conquista and matchines Santo Niño de Atocha. This virtual trip to Mexico asks only $10 ($7 kids 14-and-under, seniors and students). Door open at 7 p.m., with an invocation at 7:15 and curtain at 8. On Sunday, Nov. 1, the SBCC will also screen the animated movie La Leyenda de la Nahuala , about a boy kidnapped by an evil ghost on the Day of the Dead. The film begins at 12:30 p.m., and at 2 p.m., listen to La Rondalla’s take on New Mexico music. Following that will be a 3:15 p.m. performance of The Life and Times of Juanito Gonzalez , a children’s play about a 100-year-old man who returns after his death to tell the details of his long life. A Día de los Muertos art reception will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in the gallery, while in the library, kids can get in on face painting, piñata breaking and crafts from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For details on what is, frankly, an exhausting amount of fabulous events, call 848-1320 or go to cabq.gov/sbcc.
Culture Shock: Día De Los Muertos
Día De Los Muertos
3 min read
