Dia de los Muertos festival leaves a lasting impression
DOWNEY – This was Downey’s 10th Dia de los Muertos, and those entering from the Firestone side were greeted by a Garden of Katrinas, a set of 10 figures each at least 10 feet tall. A winding path led you around so you could appreciate their glittering party clothes and made-up skeletal faces. Santa Ana winds had been predicted but the air was calm and the sky blue, a perfect day. Some even carried ruffled sombrillas.
An invitation to the community to participate in the new Downey Community Altar on the Theatre’s temporarily named Plaza del Recuerdos (Plaza of Memories) brought Martha Sodetani over from the Downey Unified School District booth.
“I put a picture in the altar,” she said. Martha looked splendid in a big straw hat with a brim full of red roses that her daughter Skylar gave her. The oversized altar by the fountain in the plaza held candles, flowers and an apron of marigolds, with space for the commemorative photos.
For the two days between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, it is believed that the veil between the living and the hereafter is lifted, and the spirits of the dead may come back to visit. The altar, or ofrenda, is what the whole celebration is about, as altar maven Carolina Estrada del Toro, who is from Nyarit, told me four years ago.
“It’s a collection of offerings dedicated to the person being honored,” she said. “Altars are created to show the souls of the dead that they haven’t been forgotten.”
New too was a Pet Altar and residents were encouraged to bring photos. Words cannot say how deeply pets can be family. Also new: The Dodger Altar: our boys in blue. A picture of rookie Jackie Robinson audaciously stealing home in his first World Series. Vin Scully. Golden memories. Bowls of peanuts, boxes of Cracker Jack and bags of sunflower seeds represented the crowd.
Outstanding and new, too, is Car Altar Alley, with 10 vintage automobiles that had been converted to altars for the day. It was worth going to the parking spaces beyond the white vendor tents and food coaches to see the beautifully polished and preserved vehicles. Pictures of the family member who had passed were placed on the hood, and candles, incense and marigolds on the front bumper. These were not the sleek sports cars from today, but more appropriately, they were restored, rare from 1930’s and 40’s.
Inside, the Downey Theatre housed the annual Downey Arts Coalition art show, and Pat Gil and Alistair Hunter were there to oversee it. “190 pieces in the show,” said Alistair. “That’s a big show.” This year’s Art Festival was sponsored by Downey Kiwanis.
Food trucks: My granddaughter Lawren and I sampled Papa Churros’s confections with ice cream, and at the face painting booth I had a red flower painted on my cheek- impressive technique.
There were calaveras/sugar skull decorating and demonstrations. Wine and beer in the Theatre Patio, and live music and dancing in the zocalo.
Friends of the Library had racks of gently used books, and coloring pages for kids. Many organizations had tent booths. I found Carol Kearns on the patio behind the library with the amazing student art display.
Earlier, when the day began, Aztec dancers had performed wearing headdresses, called “penachos,” towering creations of pheasant, eagle and other colorful feathers. Once they had done their ceremonial dance to the sun, they were gone, but dancing groups and family entertainment continued all day.
Originally the Dia used to be celebrated more privately, at first by immigrant families, as a time for family remembrance with home altars that held favorite foods, fruits and drinks to entice the spirits. Now it has become a cultural event for the whole community. That variety of faces filling the Civic Center show how we are all interconnected.