Dia de los Muertos Event

A memory wall is made to honor loved ones who have passed during the Woodlawn Cemetery Dia de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, November 2, 2019, in Santa Monica, California. (Rachel O'Brien/Corsair)

On Oct. 25, 2019, the FIGat7th event corporation held a Dia de los Muertos event, at 7th and Figueroa St.
Among the festivities were a tequila tasting, silk-screening, poster-making, MAC glamour eyes, and a DJ. An altar designed by Consuela Flores, adorned with photos of lost love ones' old photos and mementos, greets those who enter the event. The smiling, half-skull painted faces of other Dia de los Muertos attendees fill the view. Rows of brightly colored Mexican paper cutouts hang from above.

"The tradition of The Day of the Dead is to commemorate the dead," said Leah Ross, the celebration coordinator.
Ross went on to explain that Dia de los Muertos also serves to mock death itself by reminding us that we still can get in touch with our dead loved ones and that death itself cannot stop the love we have for them. The idea that life is is circular, going from birth through life and finally to death, is a native belief that has made its way into modern Mexican culture.

"We want to create a community with our events here," Ross said. Although the event was at a shopping mall, Ross did not believe that it was any less of a community-building event. According to Ross, the location is what helped bring people to the event.

While patrons had to pay for their food, the event and the face-painting, the glamour eyes, DJ music, and tequila-tasting that came with it were all free of charge.

Dia de los Muertos was filled with features that appealed to all ages. The DJ played songs for kids and adults, the face painting was there for children, the glamour eyes were there for those who wanted to take part, and posters were available for anyone who wanted a keepsake from the night's festivities. The event was a mix of amusement and cultural education, presenting an opportunity to celebrate the widely-commemorated Day of the Dead.