Day of the Dead Celebration

Day of the Dead Celebration Nov. 2nd

The Davis Cemetery District and Arboretum is collaborating with Ethnic Studies Faculty at Woodland Community College, as well as the Forbes family, to host a free Day of the Dead Celebration on Saturday, November 2, 2013 beginning at 11:30 AM on the historic grounds of the Davis Cemetery. Please come be part of this celebration with Mexica danzantes, Native drummers, speakers, poets, and music honoring all, including internationally recognized Native Studies Scholar Jack Forbes. Please feel free to bring objects honoring loved ones to be placed on the altar.

The event starts at 11:30 am with an altar viewing and pan de los muertos, followed at noon by an indigenous Mexica danza led by Kalpulli Tlayolotl, a multi-lingual blessing given in Nahuatl, Spanish and English by Dr. Jennie Luna, Forbes’ last doctoral student, and then Native drumming. A welcome will be given by Joe Finkleman, Community Outreach Director of the Davis Cemetery District & Arboretum, followed by words regarding the remembrance of Jack Forbes by Melissa Johnson and Melissa Moreno, a sharing of Forbes’ poetry by Carolyn Forbes and Woodland Community College students, Native flute music by Dr. Rose Borund and traditional Mexican music by Mariachi Tonantzin, concluding with a special blessing and viewing of Forbes’ grave site.

This celebration is one of the few Meso-American indigenous influenced rituals, honoring the circle of life on mother earth, which has not been eradicated. The celebration is part of an effort to create community, a sense of belonging, and global awareness of cultural richness in our multicultural society.

Donations of marigold flowers and volunteers would be appreciated. To donate, volunteer, or get on the mailing list for up-to-date information, please email Professor Moreno at mmoreno@yccd.edu. For more information on this event please contact Professor Moreno and/or Community Outreach Director Joe Finkleman at cemetery@dcn.org‎.