Dia de los Muertos in Jacksonville: The Observance Runs Through Nov. 2, and the City's 10th Annual Celebration Fills Art Walk on Wednesday
Families honor departed loved ones with ofrendas - altars of photographs, candles, marigolds and favorite foods - on Nov. 1 and 2. Jacksonville's public celebration, the 10th annual Day of the Dead event hosted by Casa Mexico Jacksonville, joins First Wednesday Art Walk at James Weldon Johnson Park on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
For many Mexican and Latin American families, including those in the United States, this weekend is a time to honor loved ones who have passed and celebrate the lives they lived. Known as Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, the tradition is observed on November 1 and 2, the Florida Times-Union explained in its guide, opened by the desk this run: families create colorful altars adorned with photographs, candles, flowers and favorite foods to welcome the spirits of departed loved ones - including friends and beloved pets - and keep their memories alive. UNESCO added Dia de los Muertos to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
The days carry distinct meanings. Observances typically run from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, with preparations and vigils sometimes beginning Oct. 31. Nov. 1, known as Dia de los Angelitos or Dia de los Santos Inocentes, is dedicated to remembering children who have died; Nov. 2, Dia de los Muertos, honors deceased adults.
Jacksonville's way to join the celebration in public comes midweek: First Wednesday Art Walk is partnering with Dia de Los Muertos Jax for its 10th annual Day of the Dead celebration, hosted by Casa Mexico Jacksonville, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at James Weldon Johnson Park, beginning at 5 p.m. The celebration will feature traditional Mexican folklorico dance performances, live performances by University of North Florida students, face painting, an altar contest, and local vendors, the Times-Union reported.
At the center of the tradition is the ofrenda, an altar whose offerings represent the four elements: fire, in candles that light the spirits' path; water, for refreshment and purification; earth, in food that nourishes them; and wind, in papel picado, the colorful cut-paper banners. The bright orange and yellow cempasuchil, or Mexican marigold, is believed to guide departed souls back with its color and scent. In Jacksonville, St. Gabriel's Bakery is selling pan de muerto - the traditional sweet bread of the season, in varieties from Nutella-filled to a plain traditional version - through Wednesday, Nov. 4, the bakery's owning family told the Times-Union.
