Day of the Dead Festivities with Luisa McCarthy and José Guadalupe Flores
Week of October 26, 2024
Luisa McCarthy will host a colorful and exciting presentation!
Dia de Los Muertos Dance Performance (evening during the week)
During Dia de Los Muertos, dancing is an offering to those who have passed. It is another way to bring joy and celebration to the spirits that visit us at the altar.
Lotería Mexicana (evening during the week)
This Mexican treasure is more than a card game, it’s a family tradition — A Mexican board game of chance, similar to bingo with a Mexican twist that adds images relative to folk tales and general culture.
“Lotería” – The word you shout out with pride when winning Loteria.
One thing that never changes is the love of the game, which runs deep in Mexican families. Lotería will be hosted by Luisa, dressed as La Catrina
Dia de los Muertos themed prizes for the lucky winners!
Luisa McCarthy is the Director and Producer of the largest traditional Día de los Muertos celebration in San Diego County. Luisa grew up traditionally celebrating Día de los Muertos in her hometown of Mexico City. Although Luisa has a master’s degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands, her heart is in community service. She is proud to have initiated an authentic Día de los Muertos celebration which she hosts yearly at La Vista Memorial Park, a 40-acre park that provides the community a place to acknowledge and celebrate loved ones in a cemetery consistently mindful of the souls who rest there. She has honed her skills of organizing events from her continued education in the Event Management.
Friday 7 pm Dining Room
The Altar in the Day of the Dead Celebration explained by José Guadalupe Flores, Ph.D.
Our traditional Day of the Dead altar in the Dining Hall is built by Professor Flores together with students from the University of Baja California, Tijuana. Professor Flores explains the significance of the Day of the Dead celebration and the altar in Mexican culture. You are welcome to bring a photo of a deceased loved one to place on the altar and to write a thought for the Tree of Remembrance. The dessert that evening will include the traditional Day of the Dead bread and hot chocolate enjoyed all over Mexico during these days.
Dr. José Guadalupe Flores was born in Tijuana and studied both in Mexico and the US, obtaining his BA, MA and PhD degrees at the University of San Diego and a Law Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. He taught for 42 years at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana. He has represented the Mexican Academic Community in many educational events at UNESCO and other educational institutions. He has done extensive research on Mexican and Cuban cultural affairs. He has presented altars during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Cuenca, and the Canary Islands, as well as in San Diego and at Rancho La Puerta during our yearly festivities.