Day of the Dead Activities - Rancho La Puerta
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Day of the Dead Activities

Week of October 29, 2022
Monday, October 31st – 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.  At dinner, 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, which are 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 Spain in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Cuenca, and the Canary Islands, as well as in San Diego and at Rancho La Puerta during our yearly festivities.

 


Tuesday, November 1st  – 8 pm Olmeca Gym
Deciphering the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) with Diane Arkin, retired senior lecturer of the National Gallery of Art
With roots dating back thousands of years, the Day of the Dead is one of the most important celebrations in Mexico. It has become a blend of Catholic tradition and Mexican mysticism, commemorating death as another element of life, and as a way to remember and honor loved ones who have passed. But the Day of the Dead is not grim. It is a powerful affirmation of life and creativity with its rich and complex traditions that continue to filter into popular culture throughout the world. Come and explore the purpose of the holiday, specific Mexican artists like Posada who popularized it, where it originated, who celebrates it, how it is celebrated, its relation to other holidays, and how it remains a symbol of Mexican national and ethnic identity.   (See Diane Arkin, The Magic, Myths and Magnetism of Art.)

 

Wednesday, November 2nd
Day of the Dead Display, with Luisa McCarthy – 3 pm Gazebo
The Mercado exhibits artisanal art from different regions of Mexico.  Luisa McCarthy will tell us about this Mexican tradition.  Join us for this colorful event and for guacamole & chips.
Day of the Dead Aztec Dance and Ceremony, introduced by Luisa McCarthy – 7 pm Dining Hall
A 15-minute Aztec Day of the Dead celebration by a dance troupe from Tijuana.

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 Certification Program at the University of San Diego.  As co-owner of La Vista, she is able to pull out all the stops for her beloved Día de los Muertos celebration.  This celebration was inspired by the loss of her father, Julius E. McCarthy, laid to rest in Valle Las Palmas cemetery, Tecate, B.C., Mexico.  She now brings this celebration to Rancho La Puerta to share with guests and her Ranch family.