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Día De Los Muertos Mission's Community Altar Exhibit 2022

History

Dia de los Muertos

Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people, who considered mourning the dead disrespectful. For these pre-Hispanic cultures, death was a natural phase in life’s long continuum. The dead were still members of the community, kept alive in memory and spirit—and during Día de los Muertos, they temporarily returned to Earth. Today’s Día de los Muertos celebration is a mash-up of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Christian feasts. It takes place on November 1 and 2—All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on the Catholic calendar—around the time of the fall maize harvest.

Altars / Ofrendas

Every year, a central component of the Día de los Muertos celebration is the community altars, or ofrendas, where we come together to recognize, share, and joyfully honor the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us. This centerpiece of the celebration is usually built in private homes and cemeteries. These aren’t altars for worshipping; rather, they’re meant to welcome spirits back to the realm of the living. As such, they’re loaded with offerings—water to quench thirst after the long journey, food, family photos, and a candle for each dead relative. If one of the spirits is a child, you might find small toys on the altar. Marigolds are the main flowers used to decorate the altar. Scattered from altar to gravesite, marigold petals guide wandering souls back to their place of rest.

Pan de Muerto

Pan de Muerto is a Mexican staple of the Mexican Holiday, Day of the Dead and is an essential offering on home altars. The sweet-smelling bread is placed next to photos of the dead and a variety of their favorite foods and drinks, attracting and nourishing visiting souls. Pan de Muerto are "designed" differently. Depending on the artistic view of the baker. For example, some bread is round, representing the circle of life, with bone-shaped pieces and a small circle in the middle to represent the skull to pay homage to the dead.

In Memory of

JOSE GONZALEZ AROUIO, ALICIA TREVINO, JOSE GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, BERTHA AROUIO, FIDEL TREVINO, Y GUADALUPE HERRERA CHLOE AYALA

"MI FAMILIA DEDICA ESTA OFRENDA EN MEMORIA DE NUESTROS PADRES, FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS CON QUIENES TUVIMOS LA FORTUA DE COINCIDIR EN ESTA VIDA Y ESPERAMOS ENCONTRAMOS EN LA PROXIMA."

Altar dedicated by Familia Ayala Gonzalez

In memory of

Grandparents, Great-Grandparents and famous Girl Scouts who have passed on

"in memory of all our Girl Scout Ancestors."

Altar dedicated by girl scouts - mission service unit

In memory of

Maria de jesus uresti

"In memory of our loving mother. we miss you, and until we see each other again. we love you to infinity."

altar dedicated by maria mariscal

In memory of

Daniel arturo ramirez sr.

"in memory of a loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-great grandfather, uncle, boss, and friend."

altar dedicated by danny's mexican restaurant

In memory of

eva tamez

"in memory of our loving wife and mother."

altar dedicated by mayra rochas and santiago tamez

In memory of

Vicente fernandez

estamos pensado en vicente fernandez o algun personaje importante de habla hispana.

atlar dedicated by memorial middle school

in memory of

celia cruz

"in memory of the legendary queen of salsa, cuban-american singer, celia cruz."

altar dedicated by sharyland h.s. history, spanish, and art clubs

in memory of

those we have loved and lost

"in memory of those who had a part in helping shape our community and our boys and girls club."

altar dedicated by the boys and girls club of mission

in memory of

sara t. vela

"the lord giveth and the lord taketh away" - the life and times of sara t. vela

-prayer for sara- "Dear Lord grant Sara eternal tranquility and relief from all suffering and pain. let perpetual light shine upon her and may her soul rest in peace."

altar dedicated by mother ester botello, brother alberto vela and family, niece dehra and nephews daniel and aaron

In memory of

alger and torres families

this altar is dedicated to the alger and torres families, and pays loving tribute to the memories of our loved ones who have passed on.

We honor their hard work, their dedication, and their love of life, especially their love for family, friends, and community.

siempre, forever in our hearts, forever in our thoughts, and forever in our memories.

altar dedicated by the alger and torres families

altar dedicated by jennifer zamora

Mission's Community Altar exhibit will be open to the public at the Mission Historical Museum Annex Building at 200 E. Tom Landry Ave. from oct. 5th - Nov. 12th, 2022.

Wed. Thurs. Fri. 1pm - 4pm and Every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10am - 1pm

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Created By
Mission Historical Museum Museum
Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by Aubrey - "dia de los muertos decorations, painted skulls and candles" • AGCuesta - "Day of the dead altar yellow" • Raul Macias - "Pan de Muerto" • Marcos - "Dia de los muertos" • Danita Delimont - "Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Dia de los Muertos altar." • Marcos - "Dia de los muertos" • Victor - "Paper decoration in Merida, Mexico, Decoration de papel" • Marcos - "Dia de los Muertos Mexico, cempasuchil flowers for day of the dead, Mexico cemetery" • Binary Studio - "Hispanic heritage sugar skull marigold Festive dia de los muertos background 3d render digital illustration " • Moab Republic - "Group of unrecognizable women wearing traditional sugar skull masks and costumes for Dia de los Muertos celebration" • Aubrey - "dia de los muertos decorations" • Marcos - "Mexican Catrina for Dia de los Muertos , displayed during Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico" • Moab Republic - "Portrait of girl wearing colorful skull mask and paper flowers for Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration" • Guajillo studio - "Day of the dead bread with candles"Photos taken by Mary A. Mariscal with the Mission Historical Museum