BYU’s Office of Belonging, the Harold B. Lee Family History Center and the College of Humanities combined to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in the WSC Garden Court on Friday, Nov. 1.
The event was called "Remember Me: Honoring Our Ancestors from Around the World" and featured several booths from campus resources with themes of belonging, divine heritage as children of God and building connections.
The celebration hosted a variety of organizations, including several multicultural clubs, different study abroad programs from the Kennedy Center and internship opportunities from local companies.
An ofrenda, or traditional Mexican altar that honors deceased ancestors, was situated amidst all the unique programs and resources. Loaves of pan de muerto, a traditional Mexican bread made to honor the dead, symbolize the cycle of life and were offered to visitors next to the ofrenda.
Hadeel Al-madi, a student assistant working for the belonging and diversity department at the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences, talked about the booth she was working at.
“We’re specifically focused on the question: How do we honor our loved ones?” Al-madi said.
A board with the students’ answers to this question was propped next to their table. Some of the answers to the question included focusing on their studies, remembering ancestors through prayer and serving others.
Jorge Alvarado, a marketing and innovation intern for FamilySearch, explained how their booth was related to Dia de los Muertos.
“In Japan, they celebrate something called Obon. It’s a week where they focus on remembering their ancestors. One of the things they do during that week is make these lanterns,” Alavarado said, gesturing to a table of traditional Japanese lanterns.
After writing the name of a specific ancestor on a white paper lantern, those who celebrate Obon decorate the lanterns with things that remind them of that loved one, Alvarado said.
“Then they float (the lantern) down a river to represent that ancestor leaving for the afterlife, or returning home,” Alvarado said.
To imitate the feeling of home and spirituality, a mural of the Sapporo, Japan temple was hung next to the booth, where students were encouraged to bring their lanterns.
"The goal is to fill the world with His light through the light we feel through ancestors,” Alvarado said.
Junior Tupou, a student who attended the event, said the experience was both fun and spiritual.
“I feel like as we remember those who came before us, it can change our lives and help those who’ll come after us,” Tupou said.