Annual 'Day of the Dead' celebration mixes art, music and dance to honor family and ancestors
Halloween is over, however, many in the Latino community of Raleigh enjoy a different cultural link to a celebration called "The Day of the Dead."
The 6th annual "Day of the Dead" event has found a welcome space at the City of Raleigh Museum. A traditional altar in the entry way of the museum was created by school children, and their work highlights symbols of death.
Visual artist and storyteller Rafael Osuba sees the celebration in a positive light. "It’s not Halloween. It’s not what people think, you know? It’s a celebration of life, not a celebration of death. It’s a time where we can celebrate those that are very special to us – a family member, a loved one, a friend."
He refers to friends and loved ones who have passed on but are not forgotten. The dearly departed are celebrated with dancing, music, costumes and works of art.
Osuba said, "Art being the vehicle that I choose to tell my stories allows me to connect with my community. It also allows me to connect with my culture and we collaborate with artists and performers and people of our community to be able to tell the story."
Osuba says the tradition is most prominent in Mexico, but now it’s celebrated in many countries as well as here in public spaces like the COR Museum.
The museum’s director, Ernest Dollar, explained how it began six years ago. "We first started working with a lot of Latino partners because we wanted to reach out to these communities to get artifacts to have their story represented in the museum."
Dollar added, "It’s really a meaningful chance for us to be involved in the community and for the community to come to the museum."
Osuba believes it’s a special day for anyone. "Somehow or another, you can find something special that you can kind of bring into your life with this wonderful tradition."
The Day of the Dead celebration is free to the public Nov. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and it’s free to everyone.
The COR Museum in downtown Raleigh, which provides the space for many events throughout the year like the "Day of the Dead," is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
