Día de los Muertos Celebration Events

Published: October 25, 2023

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a vibrant holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of those who have passed away. With this colorful and lively tradition, communities come together to commemorate their loved ones in a beautiful and symbolic manner. This year's Día de los Muertos at College of Western Idaho (CWI) celebration event will be a spectacular and heartfelt experience, filled with traditions, art, and appreciation of this unique holiday right here on our campus.

Join CWI Student Engagement and the Siempre Unidos Student Club on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) Student Lounge, Room 122, as we come together as a community to celebrate life and remember loved ones. 

Whether you're familiar with the tradition or new to it, this event offers an inclusive and joyful way to participate in a celebration of life and remembrance. Come and attend a workshop exploring more about what the holiday entails, followed by an interactive crafting activity, pictures at the photo booth, and watch a movie while enjoying some good tamales and pan dulce.

There will also be week-long viewing of the community altar located in NCAB, Room 122, from Oct. 30 – Nov. 3.

Día de los Muertos Celebration
Wednesday, Nov. 1

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

NCAB Student Lounge, Room 122

 
Nampa Campus Día de los Muertos Community Altar

Oct. 30 – Nov. 3

NCAB Student Lounge, Room 122

For more information about the Día de los Muertos Celebration, please contact Jeanette Orozco at jeanetteorozco@cwi.edu.

In addition to the Celebration event at the Nampa Campus, Associate Professor of Spanish, Janel Holt’s, Elementary Spanish 1 (SPAN 101) will host an altar display for Día de los Muertos at Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN), Student Commons, from Oct. 26 – Nov. 3.

In the weeks leading up to Día de los Muertos, students learn about the rites, traditions, and beliefs connected to the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Students then paint skulls, an activity central to this celebration, and display them on the altar, another important element of this holiday. They also translate passages explaining the customs of this holiday from Spanish to English, which are shown on the altar. 

“These activities not only provide students an opportunity to learn about this celebration and its traditions but also to consider the similarities and differences surrounding the concept of death in Mexico and the United States,” said Holt.

Ada County Center’s Day of the Dead Altar Display

Oct. 26 – Nov. 3

APIN Student Commons

For more information about the altar display, contact Janel Holt at janelholt@cwi.edu.

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