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Marta Martinez explains what the Day of the Dead events are in Rhode Island

Posted on by Kennedy
Marta Martinez explains what the Day of the Dead events are in Rhode Island

The Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican festival, honors the memory of deceased loved ones

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Providence – Most people take flowers with them when they visit the cemeteries of their deceased loved ones. Marta Martinez does too, but she also brings gifts.

For her grandmother, her favorite chocolate bar: a Butterfinger. For her grandfather, something stronger: a shot of whiskey.

“This is something they would enjoy if they came overnight,” Martinez said.

Martinez isn't the only one doing this. Every year on November 2nd, millions of people in Mexico – as well as other countries in Latin America and cities in the United States – celebrate Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.”

The Day of the Dead has deep roots in Aztec history in Mexico. It was a spiritual holiday in the Aztec Empire where people celebrated the Lady of Death, Queen of the Underworld, who watched over the bones of the deceased. Spanish colonizers brought Catholicism to Mexico, combining Aztec traditions with Catholic holidays honoring the dead. Modern celebrations focus on honoring and remembering deceased loved ones.

“It's a way to honor those who have died and think about their lives in a positive and celebratory way, rather than fear or sadness,” Martinez said.

Martinez, who celebrated Day of the Dead in her native Mexico, remembers how the celebration connected her to the stories of her family members.

“I always felt like I knew people, even if they hadn't been around for a long time, because my grandmother and my mother always talked like they were on the street,” she said.

Some people in the US think Day of the Dead is the Mexican version of Halloween. To dissuade people from that idea, Martinez, executive director and founder of the nonprofit Rhode Island Latino Arts, started a public celebration in Providence more than a decade ago.

Day of the Dead celebrations typically include an altar where people place photos and mementos of their deceased loved ones as well as marigolds, and a procession to a cemetery where celebrants tell stories and clean the graves of their deceased relatives.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate in Rhode Island, there are a few Day of the Dead events taking place this weekend:

Where can you celebrate the Day of the Dead?

Providence: Rhode Island Latino Arts, a nonprofit cultural organization, will host a free Day of the Dead celebration at the Southside Cultural Center (393 Broad St.) on Saturday, November 2, at 5:30 p.m.

Activities include face painting and a community altar where people can bring photos and mementos of deceased loved ones. A procession will begin at 6:15 p.m. to Grace Church Cemetery across the street where there will be singing, storytelling and spoken poetry.

After this celebration, attendees can take a shuttle from the Southside Cultural Center to a block party hosted by PVDHouse.

Newport: The Newport Art Museum is also hosting a free Day of the Dead celebration that includes art-making, storytelling, an altar and a youth art exhibit. Participants learn more about the traditions and meaning of the Day of the Dead. The event will be held at 76 Bellevue Ave. from noon to 3 p.m. instead of

Conexión Latina Newport, a Hispanic community organization, is hosting a pre-celebration at 10 a.m. at 170 Broadway in Newport with face painting and a film.

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