The Green transformed into a happy celebration of Día de los Muertos on Friday. M-A’s Intercultural Leadership class hosted the event honoring those who have passed on for the third year in a row. Although the holiday has deep roots in Mexican culture, all were welcome to view beautiful ofrendas (altars), participate in the celebration’s many activities, and enjoy festive snacks from a Mexican food truck.
Academy students made an ofrenda featuring photos and meaningful items that belonged to family members and friends. Senior Jenny Aguilar, an Academy student, helped build the arc and arrange flowers on the altar. “All the small decorations and plates are my mom’s, and we’re reusing old papel picado from the last event,” Aguilar said.
In honor of loved ones who passed away, Academy students added favorite foods and objects to their ofrenda. “My great great grandma loved tamales, and my uncle loved hamburgers and conchas. My aunt died when she was a baby, so we put some candies, toys, and a pacifier,” Aguilar said.
Junior and ELD student Allison Alfaro made a box for actor Cameron Boyce. “I really liked that actor in the series he was in. We put things he liked, like tacos, guacamole, and cereal. We also put cempasúchil flowers,” she said.
Community members could walk around and admire the ofrendas. “I think the ofrendas are really nice. It’s a good way to show respect to the people who have passed away,” junior Zachary Quintana said.
The AVID Club created an ofrenda in memory of late family members and beloved tutor Diego Vasquez, who passed away earlier this year. “The main photo we wanted to do was of Diego,” senior and AVID Club secretary Julissa Madrigal said. “He was very loved by all the students. He impacted all our lives, and we wanted to honor him today.”
AVID teacher Arminda King also led a collaborative activity with seniors. “We drew skulls on pieces of tinfoil with sharpie markers as decoration. Throughout the week, we made paper cempasúchil flowers during lunch,” Madrigal said.
The Latinos Unidos de Menlo Atherton made an ofrenda dedicated to influential Hispanic figures like Cantiflas, Vicente Fernandez, and El Chavo del Ocho.
“We made a tapete (a colorful piece of art made on the ground as part of the Día de los Muertos celebration in parts of Mexico) out of wood chips from Mr. Leeper’s woodshop class. They’re dyed in different colors and we layered the wood chips on wet concrete so they would stay in place,” senior and LUMA member Alessandro Novoa said.
The event continued with live performances, including a heartfelt rendition of “La Llorona,” a staple song in Día de los Muertos tradition, from junior Zoe Medina. Afterwards, the Baile Folklórico Club danced in traditional folklórico dresses featuring high ruffled collars and flowing skirts adorned with colorful ribbons at the ends.
M-A’s student band, Gallos de Michoacán, ended the night on a lively note, performing joyful Hispanic music that drew a crowd to the dance floor.
