Dia de los Muertos to be feted at civic center Nov. 1

  Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will be celebrated  Nov. 1 at the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive.

  Traditionally, the celebration focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember those who have died. It is believed the spirits of the dead visit their families on Oct. 31 and leave Nov. 2.

   In Mexico and among Hispanics living in the United States and Canada, the celebration is on Nov. 1 and 2, in connection with Catholic holy days of All Saints and All Souls day.

  At the civic center, arts and craft vendors will be present, with workshops and classes offered for a small fee to make masks and create paper designs.

  Throughout the event from noon to 7 p.m., there will be entertainment with Latin music and singing. Admission is free.

  Closing the events, Monsignor Richard O'Keeffe and Father Javier Bravo will deliver a sunset, outdoor Mass in both English and Spanish.

  For information on Dia de los Muertos or to sign up for a workshop, call Stephanie McMillin, 373-5043.

  For the Day of the Dead, the tradition is for families to make altars to place offerings of food: "pan de muertos," bread baked in shapes of skulls, figures of "la calaca," the skeleton, and others.

  Feelings are expressed in cliches, such as "Death is skinny and weak and she can't carry me."

  Color is predominant in celebrations, both public and by families who visit the graves of their loved ones with food and libations. The "calaveras" (skulls) are often decorated in bright colors and inscribed with the name of the departed one.

  Another tradition is children carrying yellow marigolds to the cemetery where the altars are displayed.

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.