| Dia de los Muertos in East Contra Costa observances combine fun and remembrance By Marta Yamamota
For the Contra Costa Times Posted: 10/30/2014 10:35:28 AM PDTUpdated: 10/30/2014 10:45:25 AM PDT Celebrating a cultural event with ties all the way back to the Aztecs, East County families will gather on Saturday, sharing the belief that the spirits of deceased loved ones return to reunite with their families on this day each year. Day of the Dead, El Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated throughout Mexico with much love and joy, and is viewed as an opportunity to spend the day and visit with those no longer with us. In East County, Pittsburg will hold a two-day celebration, Oakley a cultural workshop and in Antioch a special Mass and light celebration at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation is co-hosting Day of the Dead events in Pittsburg on Nov. 1 and 2. A community altar is set up at the California Theatre in which people can add their offerings. (Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation) ( Pittsburg Arts & Community Found ) Pittsburg's Dia de los Muertos, sponsored by the Pittsburg Arts & Community Foundation with help from others, will be Saturday and Sunday at three locations where exhibits, entertainment and activities reflect the theme "Pensando en ti" or "thinking of you." Memory table exhibits, called ofrendas will be displayed at Galleria Vidrio, Railroad Book Depot and California Theatre, from1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Galleria ofrendas will be those created by local families; those at the Railroad Depot will be part of a literacy project. A community ofrenda will be set up in the California Theatre so people can contribute pictures of their loved ones. The theater will also provide entertainment on both days. On Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m., the public is invited to enjoy the Besh Beni Aztec Dancers and the Jaraque Folklorico Dancers. A harpist from Jalisco, Salvador Vazquez, will close the show. On Sunday, Mariachi San Miguel from Stockton will entertain from 2 to 4 p.m. Also on Sunday, Old Town Plaza will be the scene for a festival-like family day with activities for the children, more music, food vendors and information booths where nonprofit organizations geared toward the Latino community will be on hand. From 1 to 5 p.m. the plaza will be alive with sugar skull decoration, paper flower making, each requiring a small fee, and loteria, Mexican bingo. All other activities are free and foundation member Rose Mary Tumbaga sees this as an event that many can enjoy. "I think people who have a limited knowledge of what Day of the Dead is and are interested in learning more about it would really enjoy the event," she said. "Of course, those who do know everything they need to know about it will just love it because it's a lot of fun; it's a family activity." In Oakley, You, Me, We Oakley (YMWO) is partnering with the city and local groups to present El Dia de los Muertos Cultural Workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Oakley City Hall. The free workshop's goal is to share information about the holiday, and its purpose and significance toward the traditions the day represents. Again a Dia de los Muertos altar will be important and attendees are encouraged to bring pictures and favorites items of their loved ones to include in the community ofrenda. Ofrendas created by community groups or individuals, including Freedom High School's Latinos Unidos, St. Anthony's Sociedad Guadalupana, Art and Lidia Fernandez, Liberty's Latinos Unidos and others, will also be displayed. The workshop will include dance performances by local groups and various activities, such as decorating your own sugar skull, making tissue flowers, traditional face painting, tasting Pan de Muerto and enjoying a fun game of loteria (Mexican bingo). In Antioch, Holy Cross Cemetery will use Saturday to celebrate the opening of its new mortuary chapel and its annual Day of the Dead observance, starting with an All Souls Mass at 11 a.m., followed by food and mariachi. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a Vigil of Light Celebration for families to honor their loved ones with the placing of candles on their gravestones. If You Go
Pittsburg: Dia de los Muertos: Nov. 1, 2. Exhibits: 1-5 p.m., Galleria Vidrio, 690 Railroad Ave.; Railroad Book Depot, 650 Railroad Ave.; California Theatre, 361 Railroad Ave. Entertainment: 2-4 p.m. Nov. 1-2, California Theatre.
Festival: 1-5 p.m. Nov. 2, Old Town Plaza, 500 Railroad Ave.
Information: Rose Mary Tumbaga, 925-252-6981, rtumbaga@pittsburgfoundation.org.
Oakley: Dia de los Muertos Cultural Workshop, 1-3 p.m. Nov. 1, Oakley City Hall, 3231 Main St. For more information call YMWO program coordinator Gabriela Banos-Galvan, 925-625-7011, gaby@youmeweoakley.org.
Antioch: Holy Cross Cemetery, 2200 E. 18th St., Mass and celebration |
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