Driftless Region’s
Día de Muertos Celebration
A Mexican Cultural & Educational Event
Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most important traditions in Mexico. The festivity commemorates deceased loved ones by honoring and remembering them through ofrendas or altars decorated with traditional elements and items that represent those who have passed on to welcome them and guide their souls on their journey back home. This free outdoor celebration offers modalities to honor loved ones and hands-on workshops to engage attendees in Mexican folk art and culture.
The 2024 Driftless Día de Muertos Celebration will be held Saturday, October 5th from 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Please help us to continue this tradition in the Driftless Community.
Ofrenda or Altar
A community altar or ofrenda will be constructed during the October 5th celebration. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photograph, object, or a favorite food of a loved one who has passed away to place on the ofrenda. Other traditional items include candles, marigolds, paper mache skulls, and natural elements.
This year, the ofrenda will honor those who have worked in the food system, including farmers, food workers, chefs, food system activists, and everyone in between who spent their life in service to the beautiful work of feeding people.
Mexican Folk Artists, Andrea Muñiz, Gloria Alatorre, and Gabriela Marván will share the meaning of the ofrenda and guide participants in placing items on the altar.
Cempasúchil
or Marigold
Marigolds or cempasúchil are the ceremonial flowers for the Día de Muertos celebration. The fragrance is said to lead souls back to their loved ones. Keewaydin Farms has planted around 5,000 giant marigolds for the 4th Annual Celebration, along with hundreds of accent flowers like celosia, amaranth, baby’s breath, and more. These ceremonial flowers will line the driveway as guest arrive, bloom in the flower tunnel entrance, be used in Mexican folk art projects and featured culinary dishes, as well as adorn the community ofrenda.
Calaveritas de Azúcar or Sugar Skulls
Calaveritas de azúcar or sugar skulls are a traditional way to commemorate a person you wish to honor for Día de Muertos. A sugar skull represents a departed soul and spirits of the dead are welcomed back to their homes. The skulls are made from sugar and egg and placed in molds to form the shape of the calavera. Once the sugar hardens into shape, the skulls can be decorated with frosting. Volunteers and students from Youth Initiative High School and Viroqua Middle School will prepare sugar skulls in their classrooms for Hispanic Heritage Month in September. These skulls will be placed on the ofrenda on October 5th.
Taste of Dia de Muertos Culinary Exeperience
For the first time, we are organizing a Mexican culinary experience including traditional Dia de Muertos dishes. We are excited to collaborate with local chefs, farmers, and food businesses to bring you the following menu.
Tortilleria Zepeda – Tostadas– Pollo estofado and a Vegetarian black bean sweet potato tostada, as well as marigold atole.
Driftless Café – Pan de Muerto, Café de Olla & Hot Chocolate
Paoli Schoolhouse – Corundas, Duros/Chicharrones Preparado, and Ponche Mexicano
Migrants – Chicken Mole and Calabaza en Tacha
Noble Rind – Mexican Chocolates
In Mexico, food is an important part of the culture and therefore, of the Day of the Dead celebration. Food helps us to remember our loved ones.
Live Catrina Procession
María Navarrete will be wearing a traditional Catrina dress, which is a collaboration between artists Nadia Figueroa (from Mexico City), Gabriela Marván (from Viroqua) and her apprentices María Navarrete (from Madison) and Vania Romano (from Chicago). The dress was created in an apprenticeship program, which was funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Boards. The dress is inspired by nature and the traditional Catrinas. The gown will be adorned with decorated skulls (calaveras), flowers, leaves, and butterflies with a whimsical touch. The make up will be done by artist Adam Correa. María will lead the procession to the altar in the evening (around – 6pm).
Also from the Apprenticeship program, Andrea Muñiz is creating decorated skulls for the ofrenda.
The art created will be also exhibited at the Milwaukee Art Museum on October 20.
Papel Picado at McIntosh Memorial Library
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: McIntosh Memorial Library Program Room
Cost: Free
Registration: Open to all ages and skill levels; materials provided
Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into a vibrant tradition and prepare for a festive celebration!
Aztec Dance Performance
Guest artists, Alejandra Jiménez Marván will perform traditional Aztec and Mexican folk dances at the October 5th celebration. Ale will also give a talk about the meaning of the dance.
Bilingual Books
The McIntosh Memorial Library will bring a collection of bilingual books for children to explore.
All ages are welcome to join.
Tortilleria Zepeda Nixtamal Presentation
Local food artisans Julian and Heidi Zepeda, owners of Tortilleria Zepeda, will present a culinary demonstration during the October 5th celebration. They will show attendees the nixtamal process of making tortillas. Nixtamalization is a traditional process in Mexico whereby corn is treated with lime, cooked, and dried and ground to produce the flour used to make tortillas.
Zepeda will have tortillas for sale at the celebration.
All Are Welcome
There is no cost for entry and art workshops are free.
Food vendors accept cash and serve all day. Artists accept cash for art purchases.
No credit transactions. No ATM available. No pets allowed. Camping available.
Funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin” and Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Support and collaboration to host this free community event also comes from The Mexican Folk Art Collective, the Driftless Café, Semillitas -Spanish in Nature, Youth Initiative High School, Tortilleria Zepeda, Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance Group, Thorson-Popp Funeral and Cremation Services, Community Hunger Solutions, the Viroqua Food Co-op, Peter Cozad Photography, and many artists, donors, and volunteers.
Contact joy@driftlesscuriosity.org for event details.
Día de Muertos FAQs
Q: What is Day of the Dead?
A: Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most important celebrations in Mexico. The festivity commemorates deceased loved ones by honoring and remembering them through altars or ofrendas. Each year, Mexican families gather before Nov. 1 to decorate their ofrendas with photographs, sugar skulls, food, candles, cempasúchil (sem-pah-suu-cheel), and other traditional elements. The Día de Muertos celebration holds great significance in the life of Mexico’s Indigenous communities. The fusion of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Catholic feasts brings together two universes, one marked by Indigenous cosmovisions, and the other by worldviews introduced by the Europeans in the sixteenth century. Even though the celebration has religious origins, today it is a cultural celebration, recognized by UNESCO as a the intangible heritage of humanity.
Q: Why do you host the Driftless celebration in the beginning of October when it is traditionally celebrated in the beginning of November?
A: While we would love to celebrate Día de Muertos during the traditional dates, the Driftless Region’s Día de Muertos Celebration is held in early October because we grow a crop of 7,000 cempasúchiles, or marigolds (the ceremonial flower of the celebration), and other flowers. Due to the high risk of frost in November, we elect to hold the event before the likelihood of the first hard frost.
Q: What is the meaning behind the cempasúchil?
A: Cempasúchil, or marigold, is a flower native to Mexico, its name comes from the Náhuatl “Cempohualxochitl” which means “twenty flowers” or “several flowers”. Since ancient times it is believed that the fragrance from the cempasúchil, which is a musky smell, is said to lead souls from their burial place to their family homes.
Q: Why do you host the event on a rural farm, far from cities?
A: The uniqueness of this event is that it is held outdoors, in the place where the marigolds are grown. We also want to represent the Mexican and Mexican American rural populations. Typically events like this are held in big cities, so the minorities in rural areas are underrepresented.
Q: Can I wear a costume?
A: We respectfully request that guests do not wear a costume, as we want to keep this event closer to the traditional celebrations. There is a representation of Catrinas from the artists, but they are not costumes. Thanks for understanding.
Q:If I am not Mexican, can I participate in the ofrenda building?
A: We would love your participation in the ofrenda process. The loss of someone you love is a universal feeling. We want to share with you how we live and see death in our culture, through this tradition. We believe that understanding traditions from other cultures is a way to create empathy.
Q: Is it ofrenda or altar?
A: The Day of the Dead ofrenda is also called altar. However, the correct word to use is ofrenda. An altar is to ask something. An oferenda is to offer something. We offer meals to our ancestors and remember them through the ofrenda.
Q: How can I find more information about the meaning of the ofrenda?
A: The lead artists will explain more about each element of the ofrenda during scheduled presentations. Check the program for times. There will also be QR codes embedded in the ofrenda, which participants can scan to learn more.
Q: Can I bring a photo of a member of my family who has passed away?
A: Yes, you can. This year, we will honor the loved women of our families, and the women from Mexico who have been victims of femicide.
Q: Is this a free event?
A:Yes, this is a free community event, open to the public. Every year we have applied for grants in order to make this possible. Grants cover a part of this event and we receive some help from sponsors and fundraisers. We always appreciate your donations, which help us to continue hosting this event for free, while covering the expenses.
Q: Can I bring my pet?
A: Since the event is held on a working farm, where there are sheep, goats, and other dogs, we ask you to please leave your dog at home. Thank you for respecting the host’s request.
Q: Can the younger kids be around the ofrenda?
A: The ofrenda is for everyone to watch and participate in. However, we request parents to keep a close eye on their younger children approaching the ofrenda because once the candles and copal (hot resin) are lit, they can be dangerous and cause burns. We wouldn’t want to have an accident, so we appreciate close supervision of your children.
