In partnership with the City of Encinitas Arts Division, Encinitas Friends of the Arts will be celebrating its third annual Dia de la Muertos on Sat. Oct 29, at the Encinitas Community Center ( 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, off Balour, Encinitas) from 12-4 pm. This free family event will foster an appreciation and awareness of this significant Latino cultural celebration while uniting people of all backgrounds and traditions. More info: Naimeh Tanha Woodward 760-298-1708
This year I was one of the official face painters for the four hours of this lovely event. I was stationed next to all the music and dancing, but to paint a face every 15 minutes takes total concentration so I missed most of the action at the event even though I was in the middle of it. Here are some of the 17 faces I completed.
Artist at work, photo by Lois Sunrich |
The Por Siempre Car Club of San Diego hosted an exhibit where club members displayed their classic cars with ofrendas created in their trunks in honor of family members. Manual Navarro, a member of the family based club, explained the significance of Día De Los Muertos to the Mexican community.
“This is an old Mexican tradition, that the families used to go on Nov. 2 to bring their loved ones food, flowers, candles, the things they used to love to eat, or wear, or do, to their gravesite,” Navarro said. “But since our ancestors are 2,000 to 3,000 miles away, we celebrate them here.”
The back of his 1948 black Dodge was adorned with photographs of his grandfather and namesake, Manuel, and his grandmother, Maria, bedecked by masses of flowers. Flowers, especially marigolds, are central to the celebration because it is believed their scent helps guide back the souls of loved ones.
He explained that nine years ago, his wife, Cedma, thought of putting ofrendas in the trunks of their show cars for an event at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, in Oceanside.
“The trend of putting an ofrenda in the trunk of a car has spread everywhere since then,” Navarro said.
Navarro also noted that Nov. 1 is All Souls Day — in his culture, traditionally known as the Day of the Little Angels or Day of the Innocents, when the souls of departed children are celebrated. The following day is Day of the Dead, when adult departed relatives are honored. The common references to All Souls Day and All Saints Day occur because the Mexican Día de los Muertos was combined into Catholic celebrations after the Spaniards came to Mexico.
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Mariachi
Real de San Diego
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Grand
Finale: see them perform a tribute to Juan Gabriel at 3:30pm. They have been the
top-rated Mariachi in San Diego since 1978 and perform regularly for the
Chargers. Info
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Por
Siempre Car Club
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Ten beautifully
restored low-rider cars will be on view with a Day of the Dead Ofrenda in each
one. Info
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Day
of the Dead Art Exhibit
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Check out the
outstanding 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional artwork by the students of Paul Ecke
Central School, Becky Kay, Instructor.
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Face
Painting
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Transform your face
into a traditional sugar skull. Show your spirit with this dramatic and
attention grabbing look. 32 face painting stations will be available--select the
one you want.
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Calavera
de Azúcar / Sugar Skulls
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Learn how to decorate
your own calavera de azúcar, or sugar skull, using tubes of colored icing and
embellishments.
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Papel
Flores / Tissue Flowers
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Mexican paper flowers.
This tradition utilizes tissue paper cut with scissors and folded into beautiful
flowers.
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Artist
Demonstrations
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Watch three
outstanding visual artists, BB Bastidas, Luis Murguia and Oscar Fernandez, create Day of
the Dead art at the celebration. Their artwork will on view and for
purchase.
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Surfing
Madonna Community Ofrenda
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Honor the memory of a
loved one or a friend by contributing a photo or a non-valuable remembrance to
the Ofrenda.
A second Ofrenda, at
the Encinitas Library, will be on view from Oct. 28-Nov. 3.
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Authentic
Mexican Food
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Enjoy delicious
Mexican food prepared by Tacos el Rorro and El Panchitos, along with Pan de Muerto,
horchata, bottled water and dessert. All available at affordable
prices.
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Encinitas
Library Day of the Dead
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Check out the
Community Ofrenda, Day of the Dead student art exhibit and Family Altars at
the Encinitas Library, from October 28 through November
3.
Families can make
their own altar, sign up at the Reservation Desk at the
library.
Honor the memory of a
loved one or a friend by contributing a photo or a non-valuable remembrance to
the Ofrenda.
Encinitas Library, 540
Cornish Drive. 760-753-7376. Info
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