DIA DE MUERTOS CELEBRATION COMES TO LIFE IN WHEATON IL

Grassroots Latino organization, Immigrant Solidarity DuPage Cultural Committee (Comite de Cultura), the Wheaton Arts Council and DuPage Foundation will bring the passion and colorful tradition of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to downtown Wheaton on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 PM – 10 PM CT.  Special homage will be given to the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo who often included themes of life, death, skeletons and skulls in her art and serves as inspiration for many flower-adorned “catrinas” (fanciful skulls) today.

The celebration will include a candle-light procession through downtown Wheaton, traditional and contemporary music, colorfully decorated alters (ofrendas), fanciful skulls (catrinas/carrines), intricately cut, colorful paper banners (papel picado), Mexican music, food and sweets.

A candle-light procession through downtown Wheaton begins at 5 PM at Gary United Methodist Church. The procession will be filled with individuals in traditional catrinas/carrines costumes and Kahlo-inspired fashion. Attendees are encouraged to come in festive Frida costumes,  Catrina Calavera “skeleton” attire and costumes.

The procession ends at the church parking lot and revelry continues with music and dancing, featuring Mexican tropical ensemble Los Monarcas and dance from: Los Chinelos- in which we all will join in!– ; Mexican children’s ballet Flor Menudita; and Aztecan Dancers Capulli Ollin.

A Mexican-style bazaar will feature local Mexican artisans, Mexican food, chocolate and tamales. Colorful alters (ofrendas), designed by local Mexican artists, the Wheaton Public Library and Franklin Middle School in Wheaton, will fill the atmosphere along with beautiful cut-paper banners (papel picado).
Burning Bush Art Gallery will host an art exhibit entitled “What Would Frida Do.” The exhibit explores the theme of Immigration and other contemporary Latino issues in DuPage County and the social commitment of Frida Kahlo, while featuring the artwork of local painters Roberto Ferreyra and Gerardo Madrigal and will open earlier in the day at 4pm.

“As DuPage County enters into a year of celebrating the life of Frida Kahlo, we are hosting a celebration which honors and highlights the Latin-American traditions Frida would have enjoyed in her lifetime – and hopefully in her afterlife!” says event coordinator Gaby Hernandez Chico. “The celebration helps to explain how the skeletons and skulls that appear in Kahlo’s work are a big part of Mexican culture, too.”

“Many people have heard of the “Day of the Dead,” but are not familiar with the traditional customs surrounding this holiday,” says Cristobal Cavazos. “On Día de Los Muertos, we celebrate our loved ones who have departed and laugh at death. We hope to bring people together in this celebration. Death does not discriminate, and it unites everyone as part of the universal human experience.”

The celebration, which coincides with the Christian holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day originated in Mexico and is customary across Latin America.  Families welcome home the visiting spirits of departed relatives and celebrate their lives.

About Immigrant Solidarity DuPage:
A grassroots Latino immigrant rights and cultural organization formed in Glendale Heights in 2007: Our mission is to educate, organize, and mobilize DuPage County around the rights and collective struggles of the Latino community.