MURFREESBORO — Following
the more whimsical Halloween holiday, MTSU will conduct its inaugural
celebration of the dead.
“Dia de los Muertos,” or the “Day of the Dead,” will take
place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the Tom H. Jackson
Building, 628 Alma Mater Drive.
The practice originated with indigenous peoples in the
Americas and predated European colonialism, according to Antonio Vasquez,
faculty project manager and a lecturer in the Department of Global Studies and
Cultural Geography.
“It’s an acceptance of death as part of the life cycle, but
we also recognize that death is not the end, but, really, a continuation of
life,” said Vasquez.
For the first 30 minutes, guests will be able to learn more
about the event and engage in various cultural aspects of it. These include
remembering loved ones at the candlelit altar with artifacts, including photos
and videos. Prayers written on paper may be placed in a box at the altar.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the celebration will continue
with stories from the students about their departed loved ones and a
traditional Azteca dance.
“For me personally, celebrating Dia de los Muertos is a way
for me to stay connected to my own family, my community and my history,” said
Jennifer Salamanca, a freshman business administration major from Nashville,
Tennessee.
Traditional foods made by students in the Department of
Human Sciences include pan de muerto (bread of the dead), atole (corn drink)
and tamales. The room will be decorated with cempazuchitl (marigolds) and papel
picado (special paper decorations).
Calaveras, or skulls made of pure sugar, will represent the
sweetness of life. Face painting will be available to represent the
continuation of life.
“I come from a different cultural background, but I love
being able to express my love for loved ones who have passed in this way,” said
Kimberlee Cooper, a senior double major in Spanish and German from La Vergne,
Tennessee. “I am grateful to be part of this experience.”
“Dia de los Muertos” is free and open to the public. A
printable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap. Off-campus
visitors attending the daytime events should obtain a special one-day permit
from MTSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation at http://www.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php.
The event is sponsored by the Department of Global Studies
and Human Geography and the Department of Human Sciences in collaboration with
the MT Student Association of Family and Consumer Science; the MT Experiential
Learning Scholars Program; La Communidad, an MTSU mentorship program for
Hispanic students; and Futuro, a professional development organization for
Latino MTSU students.
For more information, contact Vasquez at 210-838-6575 or antonio.vasquez@mtsu.edu or Cooper
at 615-713-8670 or khc2q@mtmail.mtsu.edu.
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