Yesterday, November 2nd, 2023, Ukiah High School celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
During lunch, Aztec dancers were on display for students, food was shared, and giant paper mache puppets loomed over the crowd.
Spanish for Spanish Speakers teacher Senora Matus said the day represented “cultures com[ing] together to celebrate” bringing her joy.
Señora Matus describes that the annual festivities help Ukiah High’s Latino community “remember our cultural roots while also reminding us of the people who came before us.”
In the UHS Library, Club Latino and Señora Matus’s Spanish I and Spanish for Spanish Speakers students set up a large community ofrenda for people to put photos of their loved ones that have passed. Symbolically, the cempasúchil flowers guide the deceased to the living and all the candles are to lead the dead to their ofrendas.
Bookshelves across the library displayed many Alebrijes (Spirit animals) designed by Señora Praxlodge’s AP Spanish classes. The alebrijes’ purpose is to protect the living from evil spirits.
