Dia De Los Muertos is a day to honor loved ones who have passed and commemorate with an altar, typically celebrated on Nov. 2. Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus will host a morning program and community ofrenda, or altar, on Thursday, Oct. 3, in the White Library, Room 218 from 10 a.m. to noon.
This event has taken place every year since 2004, with ofrendas placed at every campus, but the main morning program will take place in the White Library.
The White Library hasn’t always hosted the ofrendas. They have also been hosted in Spanish classrooms, the Spanish lab, the Harvin Center and the Center for Mexican American Studies. “Each space has offered its own sense of connection and reflection,” said Professor Javier Morin, who has been the coordinator since the very beginning.
This interactive event will include a book display, storytelling, and educational presentations highlighting the history and significance of Dia De Los Muertos. Light refreshments, including pan de muerto and Mexican hot chocolate, will also be served.
Dia de los Muertos has ancient origins that date back to pre-Columbian Mexico. Indigenous cultures such as the Mexica, Maya, and Purépecha believed that death was not an end, but a continuation that the spirits of loved ones return each year to visit their families. The Dia De Los Muertos celebrated today is a blend of the Catholic traditions that Spanish colonization introduced like All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
“It’s a celebration of remembrance, family, and cultural continuity, not a day of mourning, but of honoring and celebrating life,” said Morin.
The program will also feature speakers who share their own perspectives and stories along with representatives from the college’s Language Program, Mexican American studies Program, and the Del Mar College Chapter of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education who will have information tables present.
Dr. Carey Rote from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will be this year’s guest speaker to discuss the traditions of Oaxaca.
Some past presenters include Teresa Saldivar from Del Mar College, Marco Iniguez from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Amorette Garza from Del Mar College.
This event is free and open to the public, and guests are encouraged to bring a photo or small symbolic item to contribute to the community’s altar.
“Yes, I always contribute to the ofrenda. For me it’s a deeply personal and cultural act, a way to honor those who came before us and to keep their memory alive through tradition.” said Morin. He expressed that this holiday represents the continuity of life, love, and culture. “It teaches us that remembering is also a way of celebrating and learning from those who shaped us who we are.”
“I hope students walk away with a stronger connection to their cultural roots and a deeper understanding of how traditions like Dia de los Muertos sustain community and identity,” said Morin.
