Opinion: Why I seek to spread Día de los Muertos traditions far and wide

I am originally from Tijuana, Baja California. I discovered the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos in high school at the age of 13. I was part of an art class and my teacher gave us the topic and explained it to us. The teacher explained the culture, tradition and meaning in such a way that I truly fell in love with it and what it represented.

I remember my first altar was like a dream come true since that day my teacher told us that wonderful story of our beautiful Día de los Muertos tradition. Although my altar was very small and with very few elements, for me, it was very beautiful to make it at a very young age.

Every year it gets more elaborate, I discover more new stories of our magical towns in my country (Mexico) and my heart grows more with those stories.

Since then, every year my love and passion for the holiday has grown and has even spread to my neighborhood Colonia Montebello. I think my neighbors eagerly await the moment when I start putting together the altar. They ask me when it will be ready. I have been told that their children ask them if it is the same as Halloween celebrations. It helps them explain to their children that this has nothing to do with Halloween and that it is a coincidence that Día de los Muertos is celebrated on Nov. 1 on All Souls’ Day and on Nov. 2. It also helps them explain our beautiful Mexican traditions.

As I have studied the tradition I have learned that each region of Mexico does it a little differently. That is why I try to give my altars that special touch, adding those particular details from each state of Mexico. For example, one year I added special decorations like those used in the state of Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla and Campeche.

Every time my husband and I travel throughout Mexico, in every corner of the beautiful towns we visit, we always find details that we take home for our next altar.

I have also found that in this universe of Día de los Muertos celebrations, I have found many friends who have extracted fascinating things from this tradition and have shared these ideas with us and take them to other corners of the world.

Previously, here in the border region it was very difficult to find many Día de los Muertos celebrations. But it is true that the movie “Coco” helped many people understand the true meaning of the holiday. In fact, some children comment when they see our offering, “Look, mom it’s just like ‘Coco.’” As the years go by, it seems that more families celebrate this beautiful tradition, hoping to know that their loved ones will come to visit them even if it is only one day a year. This is truly a beautiful illusion.

For me and my family, the Día de los Muertos celebration is officially on Nov. 2. But we plan to make it last two weeks. My whole family participates in the festivities. 

During the pandemic, to help with finances, my family made and sold over 30 mini altars. It was a beautiful experience.

Unfortunately, I don’t have children. But I always share my altar and celebrate with friends and children of my friends. I always take the time to explain the meaning to children who are interested, and I hope more and more people in the border region will be interested as well.

I have studied history, and we understand that this holiday comes from ancient times, long before colonization. We know and respect that “our loved ones will die but return to us in spirit as long as we don’t forget them.”

Lopez is a Mexican popular art and culture enthusiast. He works at a restaurant and lives in Tijuana.

Here’s a guide from the San Diego Union-Tribune to other Día de Muertos events around the city.