What to Know About Day of the Dead: A Q&A with Verónica Pérez Rodríguez

Candles, painted skulls, skeletons, garlands of orange paper marigolds and photos of deceased loved ones decorate a table in the Arts and Sciences building.

A traditional Day of the Dead ofrenda, organized by Institute for Mesoamerican Studies professors Veronica Perez Rodriguez and Walter Little, is seen in the UAlbany Arts & Sciences building on Nov. 2, 2023. (photos by Patrick Dodson)

By Bethany Bump

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 29, 2024) — The Day of the Dead, a holiday traditionally celebrated in Mexico and Guatemala, has become increasingly popular in the United States as people look to partake in colorful, joyful celebrations honoring loved ones who have died.

The holiday, traditionally called Dia de Muertos, is typically celebrated Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 and has a history dating back to pre-hispanic Mesoamerica, which encompasses Mexico and Northern Central America, according to Verónica Pérez Rodríguez, an associate professor of anthropology and director of the Institute for Mesoamerican Studies (IMS) at UAlbany.

A smiling woman in a blue top poses in front of a green bush. — Verónica Pérez Rodríguez

Since 2023, the Department of Anthropology and the Institute of Mesoamerican Studies at UAlbany have been celebrating Dia de Muertos by setting up an ofrenda next to the East entrance of the Arts and Sciences building. This will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, starting at 4 p.m. New this year is that from our ofrenda in the Arts and Sciences building we will go to the Campus Center Auditorium, where we will have a celebration of Mexican dance and music from 6-8 p.m. The Herencia Cultural Mexicana (Mexican Cultural Heritage) group of the Capital Region will be performing at the event and pan de muerto (sweet bread) and warm drinks will be available after.

In this IMS/Anthropology ofrenda we will honor our dearly departed, anthropologists and former students of our program, people who have left their mark on our department, our Institute and the discipline of Anthropology. We invite students and the public to also contribute pictures if they have someone they wish to honor. We just ask that after the ofrenda is taken down during the following week, they come by the IMS office and collect their photos.

While this is a day to celebrate lost loved ones, does it also bring up feelings of grief and loss?

These celebrations are beautiful, fun, loud, but also sometimes raw and bittersweet. This celebration is an opportunity to share, talk and experience, as a family or community, the joy and pain of life and death and losing loved ones. Through these celebrations new generations learn about the people who preceded them and who help pave the way for them. It is important that we know where we come from and honor these people and our heritage.