As Halloween approaches, York University’s Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics (DLLL) is set to launch its World Cultures Celebrations initiative, highlighting cultural diversity and significant holidays around the world.
Fittingly, the initiative’s first event is dedicated to the Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, usually observed on Nov. 1. This ancient Mexican tradition, which honours the dead in cheerful celebration, has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization as an example of intangible cultural heritage.
Day of the Dead altar in Mexico. Photo by RubeHM via Wikimedia Commons
Led by Professor Shanna Lino and her students in the course Spanish 3000, York’s Spanish program is mounting an altar in the DLLL office, in S580 Ross Building, in honour of the deceased. This is a customary part of the Day of the Dead celebrations, in which families venerate their dead by staging an altar and placing offerings (ofrendas).
This display is free and open to the entire York University community. Those who wish to visit the altar can do so during regular business hours from Monday, Oct. 28 (after 1:30 p.m.) until Monday, Nov. 4.