University News

Día de Los Muertos Celebrated at WIU Oct. 29

October 18, 2021

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MACOMB IL -- The dead might have bid farewell to this world, but they will never ever leave us, for they dwell in our hearts and minds.

Casa Latina at Western Illinois University will celebrate Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 at the Multicultural Center.

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos) is a Latin American holiday that is celebrated each year from October 31- November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 1 is "el Dia de los Inocentes," or the day of the children, and All Saints Day. November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

The celebration at WIU will include historical information about how Día de los Muertos is celebrated, as well as performances by the Tradición Latin Dance Team, Professor Brenda Iglesias and WIU Student Amaris Oliva Vandewalle. The event celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed and promotes the awareness and celebration of various Latinx communities.

The event is presented by the Dia de los Muertos Planning Committee and sponsored by CSAF, Casa Latina, Latin American Student Organization, AMPLIFY, Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. and Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.

For more information call (309) 298-3379 or email casa@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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