Our Lady of Guadalupe School Celebrates Día de Los Muertos

With great enthusiasm, students from Our lady of Guadalupe School (OLGS) in East Los Angeles impatiently wait for teacher Florencia Teran to begin the class. However, today is not an ordinary day; Ms. Teran will talk about a very special ancient cultural tradition in our Catholic belief: Día de Los Muertos. After two years (due to the Pandemic), Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries is retaking the Day of the Dead celebrations in which OLGS third and fourth-grade students will learn about the meaning and significance of Día de Los Muertos

 as a celebration that commemorates the Feast of All Souls in the Catholic Church.

Surrounded by tv cameras and members of the media, OLGS students are seated at their desks attentively listening to Ms. Teran before they open an art craft Day of the Dead gift box provided by Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries of the Archdioceses of Los Angeles. During this singular day, teacher Teran explained the indigenous roots and cultural significance of the Day of the Dead. Also, Maestra Teran discussed the special meaning of the ofrendas, essential objects that are an important part of the altar which help us remember and honor the memory of our loved ones who passed away. 

 

Throughout the day, students learned how to paint sugar skulls in the classroom, as well as picture frames and craft paper flowers. After, students used their art pieces to build and decorate an altar at their school honoring relatives who passed away.    

 

During the presentation, OLGS middle school students, such as Valentin Cristomo (8th grade), showcased La Catrina banner, created by his classmates, and explained to the younger students the meaning of La Catrina, a famous Day of the Dead icon created by Mexican political lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913). OLGS' banner titled "La Catrina and El Catrin," is a colorful painting that depicts an elegant, overdressed skeleton couple that suggests celebration over death. The students' banner was on display during the Day of the Dead festivity at Calvary Cemetery 2022. 

 

During the media interviews, students expressed how important it is for them to carry on the tradition of honoring those who've passed. Also, our young faithful shared how their families come together during the Day of the Dead to remember and share beautiful stories about loved ones that have passed away. A third-grade student said, "My family likes to build an altar at home in memory of my abuelito (grandfather). He used to like eating "menudo soup," and every year, we place a plate of menudo soup on the altar. I think that putting things that he used to love makes me feel that he is still with us. He is watching us from heaven." 
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Other sources and links:
Our Lady of Guadalupe School Site https://www.olglions.org/news-events/