BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) — The 100 Men Hall cultural event center hosted its fifth annual Día de Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, on Nov. 2.
The event included a live mariachi band, Mexican foods and desserts, decorations, and face painting.
About the holiday
Día de Muertos is celebrated every year after Halloween on Oct. 31 and All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1. It is held Nov. 2, known annually as All Souls’ Day.
The holiday is meant to honor deceased loved ones, pay respect, and celebrate their lives and memories.
Community altar
One popular tradition is a community altar that invites people to bring photos, objects, or other items that represent a loved one.
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Director Rachel Dangermond said the altar is a way to incorporate those traditions into the event.
“So we build an altar, as they do in Mexico, and you can bring a memento of your loved one and put it up there. And so every year that altar grows and grows,” Dangermond said.
Celebrating different cultures
The 100 Men Hall puts on events throughout the year to celebrate different cultures during holidays. The events allow people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to learn about different heritages, or those of the heritage, to participate in traditions and feel represented.
“I was in tears as this mother came up to me with her two daughters, and she said, ‘My children rarely get to see their culture.’ So, yes, we celebrate and elevate cultural difference here,” Dangermond said.
Caroline Boudreaux of Caroline’s Creole Cooking said it is exciting to see so many people participate in the event.
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“I was honored when she reached out to me and asked me to do this event for her,” Boudreaux said.
Event growth
Día de Muertos has grown every year since it started in 2019. The event aims to keep growing and to attract more of the Latin community along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in future years.
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