Spanish Club celebrates Día de Los Muertos
The Spanish Club celebrated the Dia de los Muertos holiday by bringing in a taco truck and the shaved ice Truck during the last week in October. Photo by Harper Pambrun
The Atascadero High School Spanish Club held a celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 by having a shaved ice truck and a taco truck on campus during lunch. Students could purchase shaved ice or some traditional Mexican foods to celebrate the holiday.
On Oct. 31, many students wore costumes in celebration of Halloween, and some bought shaved ice to kick off the official start of Día de los Muertos, which is celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. The celebration focuses on remembering family members who have passed away; it also focuses on the artistic expression of the living through the creation of traditional ofrendas, costumes, cooking, and other tokens and offerings.
The Hawaiian shaved ice truck offered many unique flavors to students as well as some Día de los Muertos inspired options. During the holiday, a wide variety of traditional Mexican food is important to the celebration. Some of the delicious foods prepared include the sweet Pan de Muerto, or bread of the dead, mole, tamales, pozole, and tacos. On Nov. 1, a taco truck was at AHS at lunch to offer traditional Mexican foods to students. Traditionally, the food is left for dead loved ones on their graves and on their ofrendas. Ofrendas are built in private homes and cemeteries that are used to welcome spirits back into the realm of the living. Many ofrendas are often filled with food and beverages that the person once enjoyed, as well as their photographs and flowers. Sugar skulls are used a small gifts and decorations for children, as well as a sweet snack. People who attend the Día de los Muertos holiday can also dress up as calacas, skeletons, and can dance around the streets while listening to the arrays of music performed by mariachis.
Students who participated in the celebration here at AHS were able to enjoy a glimpse of the exciting holiday of Día de los Muertos through food and music.
Each week the Spanish Club meets in Room 1204 on Wednesdays at lunch. Everyone is invited to attend or join.