LAHSO celebrates Dia de los Muertos

Decoration+on+the+ofrenda.+Photo+by+Macy+Waddle+

Decoration on the ofrenda. Photo by Macy Waddle

Macy Waddle

On Friday, November 9, Manual’s Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO) celebrated Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead holiday.

The meeting began with the officers of LAHSO, Helen Taura (12, HSU), Esther O’Coffey (12, MST), Diana Molina (11, HSU), Keenruy Murillo (11, MST), Amanda Alvarez (12, HSU) and Dina Busaleh (11, MST) giving a short presentation on the holiday’s significance and how it’s celebrated.

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on Novemeber 1 and 2 throughout Latin America to honor the lives of those who have passed away through parties, food, drinks and various other activities.

“In a lot of other cultures, death is usually very sad and you are mourning with the anniversary of that person’s death comes around. For the Mexican culture you are honoring that person trying to not see it as a negative thing. They see it as their family is still with them and they can see them once a year,” Taura said.

This holiday is very important to Latinx communities, especially in Mexico.

“It’s like Christmas here. They get a day off school and prepare big meals and parties,” Busaleh said.

Members colored skulls to decorate the ofrenda, the altar used to honor the deceased during the holiday.

Club member Annaliza Cull (11, HSU) colors her skull to place on the ofrenda. Photo by Macy Waddle

The LAHSO’s ofrenda was made to honor Selena Quintanilla, a Mexican-American singer-songwriter who was murdered by a fan in 1995.

Members also had the opportunity to honor family members by writing their names on post-it notes.

Different Latin American food was prepared, including conchas, pupusas, pan con pasta, croquetas and ensalada fria.

LAHSO meetings are open to everyone.

“To join, you can come to our sponsor, Ms. Castro, in room 203 and ask more about it. She will give you an officer’s contact information,” Busaleh said.

The LAHSO’s next meeting is their holiday celebration on Friday, December 13 from 2:30-3:30 in room 203.

You can find LAHSO on instagram @manual.lahso. They will also be performing Manual’s multicultural fair later this month.