Nevada State Museum, WNC Latino Cohort to celebrate Dia de los Muertos
Alissa Guerrero, 18, wants the world to remember her grandfather who died in August. “Most people didn’t know him,” she said. “It’s sad because he could do a lot.”
She is honoring him with an altar she created for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, being celebrated at the Nevada State Museum on Thursday and Saturday.
Guerrero is one of several Western Nevada College students participating in the celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday where ofrendas, or offerings, are left on the altar for deceased loved ones.
“People bring in food and things they liked,” explained Leticia Ochoa, 19, vice president of the college’s Association of Latin American Students. “People spend the night at the altar. Overnight is when it’s thought the dead come.”
The celebration, hosted by the Nevada State Museum and the Western Nevada College Latino Cohort, will kick off Thursday at the museum with an opening reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The festivities will continue 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday with a full day of activities.
Museum admission is free.
The reception will include Mexican-style hot chocolate and “pan de muertos” bread as refreshments.
In addition to photos of her grandfather, Corky Melhuish, Guerrero planned to add a photo of a roadster he rebuilt along with a can of paint.
“He loved to build and rebuild roadsters,” Guerrero said. “He was very talented. He could paint them perfectly.”
Teresa Fernandez, 18, who organized the Dia de los Muertos recognition through the Latino Cohort, said she was pleased to see her culture on display at the college as well as at the museum.
“It lets the public know more about the meaning this holiday has for our culture,” Fernandez said. “It’s all about gathering the family together and honoring those who have passed. It lets them know we’re still remembering them. It’s something beautiful.”
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