The Dia De Los Muertos Altar Exhibit returns to the SRJC Museum as a collaboration of three departments: English as a Second Language, Social Sciences and the museum itself.

The exhibit takes place Oct. 15 to Nov. 8. A Day of the Dead celebration will take place Nov. 1 at noon. It will include a community procession to the museum lead by the Aztec dance group Danza Coyolxauqui of Santa Rosa. The museum will host activities and opportunities for learning and interaction.

One of the goals of this year’s exhibit is to educate the public on the significance of Dia De Los Muertos. “People have many misconceptions about the Day of the Dead,” said Museum Curator Christine Vasquez.

For Pre-Columbian People of the Americas, this period of recognizing their departed commenced several weeks before the modern synchronized Catholic and Native All Souls and All Saints days, which lands on the Gregorian calendar date of Nov. 1-2.

Mictlantecuhtli, the Lord of the place of Death, was venerated throughout this time of the year in Pre-Columbian times.

ESL Instructor Raquel Rasor said Day of the Dead Celebrations are a contrast to the contemporary U.S. Memorial Day when fallen soldiers are memorialized. “The significance of Memorial Day has been lost in the hearts of some and has become a weekend shopping spree,” Rasor said.

Rasor does not want to see this celebration turn into a Cinco de Mayo-type event, which beer companies use as a marketing tool

Social Sciences Instructor Laura Larque will give a lecture on the chronological, historical and modern day adaptation of Dia De Los Muertos from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Oct. 18 at Bertollini Hall.
Larque said some native tribes of the Americas such as the Hopis and Navajos don’t embrace death as Meso-American cultures do.

“In Mexico people go to the cemetery on Nov. 1 and 2 to clean the deceased’s tomb, bring food, decorate and spend the day and evening with their deceased,” Larque said.

Rasor thinks education about Dia De Los Muertos is important. “This is not Halloween,” Rasor said.

The opening reception will take place from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the museum. On Oct. 23 from 3:30-5 p.m. the museum will hold a workshop on papel picado and sugar skull decoration.