Skulls–both sugar and regular, old bone–seem to have taken over popular culture lately, showing up most noticeably in fashion, but also in the baking and toy isles of local supermarkets and stores.
There’s no doubt these skulls are cool to look at and even a little repulsive because we all know where they come from (i.e. us). But they also have deeper meanings in most cultures.
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day holiday that takes place every Nov. 1 and 2. Though most strongly identified with Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Latin America and everywhere with a Latino population, including much of the Central Coast.
Dia de los Muertos honors the dead with festivals featuring feasting, dancing, singing, and other lively celebrations. According to the website education.nationalgeographic.com, the custom combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism brought to the region by Spanish conquistadors in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which are Catholic holidays.
This year, we’ll be celebrating Dia de los Muertos at the Discovery Museum by decorating paper skulls, dancing, and playing games. So stop by the museum Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, to honor loved ones who have passed to the other side.
The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is at 705 S. McClelland St. in Santa Maria. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Amy Blasco, program director for the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, wrote this week’s Discovery Corner, a weekly column in the Sun highlighting events, science activities, and more. Send comments to discoverycorner@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.