Join YBH for a socially distanced Día de los Muertos installation by You Belong Here and fellow community members. The community ofrenda honors and continues the celebration of our Mexican and Latinidad cultures in the San Diego region.
The installation will be viewable from outdoors and open twenty-four hours. There will dedicated days for community members to drop off their offerings. Please see the dates and times below:
Sunday, October 31st - 11am - 6pm
Monday, November 1st, 11am - 7pm
Tuesday, November 2nd, 11am - 7pm
LOCATED AT 3619 El Cajon Blvd.
This is a family friendly event. All ages are invited to attend.
PLEASE NOTE: Unvaccinated attendees will be required to wear a mask
Attendees are invited to submit photos of loved ones they want to honor via an online form. All images will be printed and displayed on the ofrenda.
Attendees will be able to participate in multiple ways;
Butterfly origami letters that they can write and fold via an instructional video that they can keep or place on the ofrenda
Light candles to be placed on the ofrenda
Decorate wooden frames to hold pictures of their loved ones and place on the ofrenda (photo printing will be available)
Special Thanks to:
Artist Katie Ruiz (@katieruizart) is a contributor to this community ofrenda. She hosted a free PomPom making workshop at You Belong Here. The pom poms will be adorned on the altar.
The Women's Alliance Club of Mesa Community College (@womensalliancemesa) were major contributors in helping to make pom pom garlands, as well as building a monarch butterfly installation that will be part of the ofrenda.
What is the history of Día De Los Muertos?
Día De Los Muertos is a traditional celebration in Mexico to honor the spirits who came before us and loved one who have passed. Dia De Los Muertos is a two day celebration, November 1st and 2nd, where we celebrate the passageway between the real world and spirit world; a time for our deceased loved ones to come back and visit us. It is said that on November 1st, the children who have passed come back to visit as angels and on the following day, adults celebrate with large gatherings. Family members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead food. Families gather during the night at the cemeteries, light candles, and place flowers on the burial sites for their lost loved ones. This is not a time of crying or grieving. These gatherings are reflective and celebratory, and invite families to gather and honor the deceased with love and celebration. If you are wanting to practice this Mexican tradition, here are some additional items that can be used to build your own ofrenda, honoring those who you have lost, or to make a personal offering to your ancestors. The traiditional offerings include the four elements; water, earth, fire, and air.
Marigolds flowers (earth)
Skulls (earth)
Papel picado (air)
Candles (fire)
Pan de muertos
Food & beverages (water)