What's Happening in Lynnwood, WA…

A colorful event in Lynnwood is planning to bring the community together to honor those who have passed.

The Day of the Dead (El Dia de Muertos) is one of Mexico’s most important holidays. Those celebrating the holiday believe that their friends and family members are allowed to return from the afterlife to celebrate with them. Families honor these visitors by building altars where they place drink, food, and flowers.

They often dress as skeletons (catrinas), including elaborate face painting to create the image of a skull, and write poems, known as calaveritas literarias, which are often satirical.

This year, artist Blanca Vasquez will be at the festival, showing people how to make paper flowers suitable for the altars. In addition, there will be kid’s activities, competitions, raffles, delicious food, music, and art.

The tradition of El Dia de Muertos goes back at least 3,000 years, and comes from the Nahual and Aztec people of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The celebration was originally held in the summer, and honored Mictecacihuatl, the “lady of the dead,” who, along with Miclantecuhtl, her husband, guard the deceased in the underworld. When the Spanish arrived, the festival was moved to late in the year.

The Day of the Dead Celebration this year is scheduled for October 29, from 12.00 pm until 5.30 pm, at the Lynnwood Event Center. Organizations sponsoring a celebration like this can reach out to professional printers, asking them to use poster printing to create colorful, fantastical advertising for the event.