The Latinx Student Union at Northern Michigan University is celebrating Día de los Muertos, and have constructed an ofrenda in John X. Jamrich hall to celebrate. This is the second year in a row that LSU has brought the celebration to NMU; last year the student group worked with Fieras on a special menu and had an ofrenda nearby.
“An ofrenda is an altar that is built and decorated with photos of any family members, friends, pets and other loved ones to honor and welcome the spirits of the deceased,” said LSU Secretary Emily Aguero. “On the altar you will find candles, marigolds and other flowers, favorite foods, drinks, papel picado [decorative flags made from tissue paper] and other favorite items of the loved ones.”
In total, this year’s ofrenda had 39 photos, 15 of pets and 24 of family members.
“We had a lot of participants,” Aguero said. “Not just with people who submitted photos but we also had a lot of help with making the papel picado, frames for the photos and leaving offerings.”
An event was held to construct the frames for the photos, photos were submitted to LSU and submissions were open to all NMU students.
“It is incredibly important to celebrate this because regardless of our current political climate it is something that is special to our culture and we will always and forever continue to honor our deceased loved ones,” Aguero said. “It is something we want shared not just within Hispanic culture but with anybody else from other backgrounds because everybody deserves to honor those who have passed away.”
Día de los Muertos takes place on Nov. 1 and 2.
