El Dia de los Muertos: Spanish Club
On the spookiest day of the year, October 31st 2019, the Missouri Western Spanish Club held their largest annual event. The Day of the Dead celebration. “The celebration is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico on the second and third of the month,’’ said Spanish Club’s president Elizabeth Combs. “The living will paint half of their face so they have ‘parte de muerto’, or part of the dead, to show that the dead still live within us,’’ said Combs. Combs is a spanish and international double major. “Back home my significant other is Mexican so I get to celebrate the holiday with his family and it gives me a day full of culture and lets me remember the ones I have lost,’’ said Combs.
“Im learning spanish and we go to several educational events throughout the year. It is important to learn about other cultures and take the importance from them into your own life,” said Missouri Western senior Rae Segbawu.
“I came to this event for a class, and I was interested to know more history and latino culture. I was also interested to see how they celebrate death compared to my typical culture,” said Missouri Western junior Shandra Traxler.
For students who are looking to broaden their culture values, Spanish Club meets those requirements. There are many events coming up such as flamenco dancing and a live Mariachi band. “Students are more than welcome to join by coming to meetings on Thursday at 2:30 to 3:30pm in Eder Hall room 211”, said Combs. “If there are any events that students want us to have, please let me know,” said Combs.
“Day of the Dead is a day where we remember those we lost. A happy memoriam where we can talk about the impact they left on the world,” said Combs.
The event started with a presentation led by the Spanish department professors followed by food, music, and culture. The room was full of bright colors, pictures, candles, as well as lots of good smelling food. The tradition for the day of the dead is for the family and friends of the deceased to bring their favorite things while they were alive. Favorite foods, candles, items are all a large part of what is left on a typical ‘ofrenda’ or alter made for that person.
