The University of St. Thomas Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement (HOLA! student club) celebrated Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with the construction of a traditional Mexican altar to shed a light on this important tradition. Students from HOLA! spoke with KARE 11 to share their personal stories about what this celebration means to them.
From the story:
Lezama Espinoza is a third-year student at St. Thomas. As a Mexican American, she said she grew up with ofrendas (offerings, placed on the altar) in her home. She explained that the whole point of an ofrenda is to attract the souls of loved ones, inviting them to come feast. It's also a reminder to them that they have not been forgotten.
"It's important to remember those we have lost because they're a part of our identity as well," Lezama Espinoza said. "Because [in] our culture, it's very important – our ancestors mean a lot to us. To be able to celebrate them in life and death is a way to honor them and their presence and their life and their experience."
