Dia De los Muertos Altar in Room 301
Mr. Topete and Spanish speakers put together another beautiful altar this year.
By Alicia Gan
By Alicia Gan
For Dia de los Muertos this November 1st and 2nd, Spanish Speakers teacher Mr. Topete put together alarge altar with contributions from his students. This continues a long tradition interrupted only by distance learning last year. The altar will stay in place until next Wednesday, Nov 10th, when it will be taken down. Visitors are welcome to visit the altar in Room 301.
Despite being named Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos is more a celebration of life than it is death. The altar is engulfed in colorful symbolic objects that remind us to celebrate life, rather than mourn its loss. From Cempaspuchitl flowers to guide the dead back home, to thin papel picado to represent the fragility of life, even salt, water, and dog sculptures take meaning atop this altar.
Standing at two desks tall, the altar continues a long tradition of celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Mr. Topete’s classroom. This holiday provides an opportunity for Spanish Speakers students to apply the cultural ideas they’ve learned in class into decorating the altar.
Typically, students volunteer to bring traditional Latin American candy and Pan de Muertos bread, which they share after the celebrations. However, due to COVID travel and health restrictions, there will not be any bread-sharing this year.
Want to see it in person? Visit the altar in Room 301. The room is open during lunch and after school for visitors to admire the altar in person and ask any questions about individual objects.
Despite being named Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos is more a celebration of life than it is death. The altar is engulfed in colorful symbolic objects that remind us to celebrate life, rather than mourn its loss. From Cempaspuchitl flowers to guide the dead back home, to thin papel picado to represent the fragility of life, even salt, water, and dog sculptures take meaning atop this altar.
Standing at two desks tall, the altar continues a long tradition of celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Mr. Topete’s classroom. This holiday provides an opportunity for Spanish Speakers students to apply the cultural ideas they’ve learned in class into decorating the altar.
Typically, students volunteer to bring traditional Latin American candy and Pan de Muertos bread, which they share after the celebrations. However, due to COVID travel and health restrictions, there will not be any bread-sharing this year.
Want to see it in person? Visit the altar in Room 301. The room is open during lunch and after school for visitors to admire the altar in person and ask any questions about individual objects.