PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Halloween may be the big holiday for Philadelphia this time of year, but it’s the best of both worlds for members of the city’s Mexican community, which celebrates two days of Day of the Dead on Nov. 1 and 2.
That fusion of holidays is an evolution of the centuries-old Mexican holiday as it’s taken root in the U.S. It also serves as a way for the city’s Mexican community to reconnect with loved ones that have passed on, and their culture.
Day of the Dead has come a long way in Philadelphia from even just 10 years ago, as the city’s once small Mexican population in South Philly has become a cultural bulwark.
“The growth has come in Philadelphia very fast, and in a cultural manner. Not very traditional, more cultural and artistic,” said Edgar Ramirez, founder of Philatinos Radio.
Part of that breaking from tradition has extended the days of celebration. In Philly, the first Day of the Dead celebration happened back on Oct. 15 in LOVE Park. Many will also happen over the next two days, but the final event will happen on Nov. 10 at Bok in South Philly. Ramirez said it’s all about spreading awareness.
“For some, they say, ‘Oh, Day of the Dead is the 31st, the 1st and the 2nd of November,’ but I think the tradition has extended because there’s a lot of things to do,” he said. “So, I don’t think we’re changing anything, we’re just promoting the tradition and sharing it.”
Olga Renteria first came to Philadelphia 40 years ago from Oaxaca, Mexico, but only started celebrating Day of the Dead three years ago, as she began to make efforts to reconnect with her Mexican culture and heritage.
It’s something she knows other people in the community are doing as well as the holiday grows in the city.
“With everything going on with Dia de los Muertos, I think they are again connecting with that culture. I think that, as myself, they are also connecting,” she said.
Eva Mirtha Hernandez, owner of the arts and design shop ChocoArte on Ninth Street in South Philly, sees that growth as only benefiting the city’s cultural ecosystem. “I think it’s every year, people realize and notice about Dia de los Muertos,” she said, “which is great news for us, because we can add this to Philadelphia.”
At the center of that tradition that’s stayed the same is the “ofrenda,” the altar erected to pay homage to loved ones that are no longer living. The Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philly contracted two community artists to erect a massive altar in its sanctuary space.
“What you do, you put a photo of them, and stuff that they liked,” explained Gerard Silva, the director of exhibitions, “and that would make them come back and sort of like, spend the day with you even if they’re not there with you, but you’re remembering them.”
However, that connection can also take many other forms. Feli Morales runs Taqueria Morales at 14th and Jackson streets in South Philly. Her husband bakes bread instead of erecting an altar, but seeing them is still special. “I don’t do that,” she said, “but I feel like I’m home when I saw that.”