EL PANTEÓN de SACRAMENTO/DÍA de los MUERTOS
2019

Día de los Muertos is a very personal holiday and each family that celebrates it has their own unique traditions that they follow. It is a cathartic experience for the living as well as a time to honor and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed on to the afterlife. “The dead come to life in the memory of the living, who evoke their particular customs, tastes, virtues and defects (Orellana 1999:67).” Dia de los Muertos acquaints children to their ancestors, as well as introduces the concept of death to children at an early age as a natural rite of passage. For adults, it provides an opportunity for communal mourning. Emotions surrounding Día de los Muertos can be somber as well as celebratory. It is a time to remember, honor and show respect to the departed. The colorful holiday serves as a reunion for the dead as well as the living.
​This year's El Paneón de Sacramento brought our community together to celebrate Día de los Muertos in a traditional Mexican event. Beautiful altares, performances by regional dance troops and a desfile that included dancing horses! Thank you to all who participated. A special Thank You! to our volunteers and our sponsors. We are a nonprofit organization, dependent on the donations and time of our community to create programs like this. 

For more photos by local artist Andres Alvarez, visit our Photo Stream!

Photo by @andresalvarez

LCAC created a community altar for the public to place offerings. The community was invited to bring candles, photographs, bread, other foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic offerings for loved ones who have passed away.

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This program is made possible by the love and help of our community and the Sacramento Native American Health Center, Inc., Special appreciation to our sponsors the California Arts Council, SMUD and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

Artwork by Reyes Gómez
​Design by Alda Nuvia