October 22, 2008 - November 7, 2008
Biology and Anthropology Halls

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About the Exhibit Activities Learn More Altars

	© Jerry Vigil

The Day of the Dead has a long history and a complex significance. It is not dedicated to a biological death; it is a social event that celebrates the return of ancestors and loved ones. According to the beliefs, the dead come back and visit during the first and second of November. People prepare altars (offerings) with the purpose of sharing some of the joys of life with family members, friends and loved ones who have passed on.

This celebration allows one to know and remember their ancestors through family stories and anecdotes so that the dead may continue to live. This celebration has become a distinctive element of Mexican culture. However the Day of the Dead is celebrated in other countries of Latin America and its popularity in the United States has grown in the past decades. If you would like to see a sampling of the altars created for previous Day of the Dead celebrations, please see our previous altars page.

Events Calendar

• November 7: Last day of exhibit
• From October 22, 2008, through November 7, 2008, the Education Section will be offering one-hour programs for school groups that include a guided tour of altars installed in the Museum galleries by local artists and community members, along with a hands-on activity based on the cultural traditions of the Day of the Dead Celebration. Cost: $2/student. Please call 303-492-1666 or email museumed@colorado.edu to schedule a visit for your group.

To learn more about the Day of the Dead, please see the list of references selected by the curator of this exhibit. We also have information about what is on a Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead altar (PDF file requires Adobe's free Acrobat Reader), fun activities, yummy recipes, and more!

The Day of the Dead programs are possible thanks to the support of the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Department of Ethnic Studies, The Brown Art Syndicate, Center for Multicultural Affairs, University of Colorado Parking and Transportation Services, Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies Outreach Award, and Mamacita's Restaurant.