Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a holiday that has been celebrated on November 1–2 in Mexico for many years and has gained a following recently in New Mexico. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed on, and help support their spiritual journey.
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Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas; honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and their favorite foods and beverages; and by visiting graves with these gifts.
Whether you have long celebrated the holiday, or are just learning about it, here are a few events in Santa Fe that honor this cultural tradition.
2018 Dia de los Muertos Events in Santa Fe
Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout the city each fall. Here are few events you might want to attend, participate and observe.
A Santa Fe favorite, the Musuem of International Folk Art hosts “Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead” at Museum Hill on Sunday October 28, 2018. Head over to decorate sugar skulls and make picture frames. Visitors are invited to bring flowers, candles and/or a memento to add to the community altar. Sample traditional Mexican treats like pan de muerto (bread of the dead). There will also be a skeleton/calavera face painting station. The museum shop also has a good selection of Muertos items for sale.
The Poeh Cultural Center will be opening their 10th annual Dia De Los Muertos Exhibit on October 26, 2018. The exhibit, which will feature the works of established as well as emerging New Mexico Hispanic and Native American artists, celebrates the rich artistic and spiritual traditions as expressed in jewelry, painting, sculpture and photography.
Teatro Paraguas will host their 5th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Community Celebration, on November 2-4, 2018. Enjoy an exciting line-up of live music, a puppet play, staged cuentos (folk-tales), a medley of songs from the movie Coco, and a short classic comedy. Teatro Paraguas will also have an alter to honor “those who came before” set up in the theater lobby and the public is welcome to bring photos and mementos of relatives to add.
Meow Wolf will also be hosting a Dia de los Murtos celebration on Friday, November 2nd, 2018. The celebration will feature live music throughout the night, headlined by local favorites Nosotros. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 at the door.
Dia de los Muertos Shopping
In the heart of Santa Fe is a special little shop filled with laughter and joy, enchantment and whimsy. This shop, Doodlets is a Santa Fe favorite especially during the Dia de los Muertos season.
Yippee-Yi-Yo is another Day of the Dead shop located off the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Located on E. San Francisco Street, you’ll find muertos figurines and many brightly decorated skulls. The Catrina figurine is a favorite.
Ortega’s on the Plaza carries Day of the Dead sterling silver jewelry by artists Shane Casis, Gregory Segura and Tom Dewitt.
If you can’t visit Mexico, you can absorb much of the culture and feel of this treasured holiday right here in Santa Fe! To plan your next trip during the observation of Dia de los Muertos in Santa Fe, order your official Santa Fe Travel Guide!
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I believe celebrating Day of The Dead removes fear of Death , it is a wonderful tradition , I have been collecting pieces over the years , thank you for this post on Facebook .
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In my Spanish class, we watched a movie on this tradition and had made ofrendas.
¡El día de los muertos que celebras es como Halloween para nosotros! Es similar a Halloween porque para ambas celebraciones, la gente se disfraza y se junta. Aunque en las celebraciones del Día de los Muertos las personas usan flores y velas para celebrar, en Halloween los niños reciben dulces. Pero ambos celebran a los muertos. Se celebran en diferentes días, pero en general tienen el mismo significado.
Such a wonderful way to remember and celebrate the life of our loved ones who have pasted away!