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Dia de los Muertos Ofrendas

Children with faces painted as sugar skulls

Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate, remember, and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades.

It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on November 1st and 2nd.

In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muertos baked in shapes of skulls and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar.

Exhibit Events


Café con Arte
October 23, 2019
8:15 - 9:15 a.m.
More Information >

Arts Midwest - Logo Bader Philanthropies - Logo Café el Sol - Logo CAMPAC Milwaukee County Arts Fund - Logo D'Addario Foundation - Logo Greater Milwaukee Foundation - Logo City of Milwaukee Arts Board - Logo United Performing Arts Fund - Logo Wisconsin Arts Board - Logo

This exhibit was supported in part by a grants from the City of Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you to all of our sponsors.