Day of the Dead Archives - Reynolds College Blog

The Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions (LCR) will once again host Día de Muertos festivities from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom.

The biennial event is free and open to the public.

“Día de Muertos — or Day of the Dead — is a joyful and meaningful celebration that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away,” said Dr. Vanessa Rodríguez de la Vega, professor of Spanish in LCR.

The festival symbolizes the return of souls to the world of the living, according to de la Vega. “The event encourages reflection on life, memory, and community, reminding everyone that death is not an end but a continuation through remembrance.”

Día de Muertos emphasizes remembrance rather than mourning by combining pre-Columbian Indigenous traditions with Catholic All Saints’ Day customs, de la Vega said. And while the festival is associated primarily with Mexico, it is also celebrated in several Latin American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and Peru.

With hundreds of people in attendance, the Missouri State Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions hosted the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival on Nov. 2.

The annual festival is a deeply rooted tradition in certain areas of Mexico and has gained popularity in recent years. It can be celebrated on the first and/or second day of November.

“This festival is a fusion of the All-Saints Day Christianity celebration and aspects of the Aztec culture,” Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez de la Vega, MSU associate professor of Spanish, said.

Rodriguez de la Vega described the event as a “joyful celebration” where people remember their loved ones who have died. [Read more…] about MSU brings life to Day of the Dead