Dia de los Muertos celebrations are coming to Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is a two-day holiday, traditionally celebrated in Mexico, that reunites the living and the dead. Families create ofrendas, or offerings, to honor their deceased relatives.

Students and teachers from Lake Charles Charter Academy’s ESL department decided to bring the magic of the holidays to the school hallways.

“It was an opportunity for us to share all the cultures of our students, and to just experience something different and something that is super important,” said reading teacher Elena Flores Moore. “Everyone was willing to share photos of their loved ones who have passed away and it is a great way to honor them.”

Altars are used to display the ofrendas and they are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the deceased and the favorite food and drinks of those being honored, which is not just exclusive to humans.

Moore said she even put up a photo of her dog and left her favorite treats on the altar.

The altar means a lot to the students.

Marleny Mointero Mendez brought a photo of her abuelito (grandfather) and said this celebration reminds her of the festivities back home.

Marleny says she and her family visited the cemetery in Mexico and decorated the gravestone of their loved ones.

The school is just one of the Dia de los Muertos festivities taking place in Southwest Louisiana, with a major festival this weekend made possible by the Cultural Arts and Music Association of Louisiana.

“I’m so excited to bring this to Lake Charles because we are the beginning of Louisiana,” she said.

Before moving to the Lakes Region, Edwina Medearis lived in New Mexico. She says the annual festivities there inspired her to bring it here.

The festival will have music and dancing by local residents.

“It’s very beautiful and shows how we come together. Little by little, my family has shown me our traditions, our music and dances, and I am very proud of where I come from,” says Violeta Ortiz, one of the festival’s artists.

The festival takes place on Saturday, November 2 at the Arcade Amphitheater at the Lake Charles Event Center.

It will run from 2pm to 8pm and will be the first official Dia de los Muertos celebration in Lake Charles.

The holiday and festival are open to anyone who wants to keep the memories of their deceased loved ones alive.

For more information about the festival, click here.