Marigolds, colorful paper banners, traditional foods, candles, and memories.
These and other meaningful elements will come together to create a community altar at this year’s Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD) Dia de los Muertos event. The district invites community members to celebrate their ancestors and culture on Nov. 2 from 2 to 7 p.m. at 320 North J St.
Brian Jaramillo, LUSD assistant superintendent of educational services, explained that this event will allow families to share aspects of their culture and traditions with their children in a welcoming and educational environment.
“To me, personally, it really is about that connection with our ancestors, and that connection with that kind of dual aspect of life and death that we live with and being able to honor that in our daily existence and help our next generation honor that as well,” Jaramillo said.
According to the Mexican Museum, the traditions involved in Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, originated more than 3,000 years ago from the practices of the native peoples of the Americas. Celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 each year, this tradition brings the living and the dead together in joyful remembrance.
The Lompoc Unified district profile shows that more than 70 percent of its students are Hispanic or Latino. To foster pride in cultural heritage, the theme of this year’s LUSD event is Honoring Our Cultures to Inspire Our Future, which, according to Jaramillo, emphasizes the importance of helping local students acknowledge and respect their roots.
“The students in our district, you know, they need something to connect to and something that’s kind of just like the theme, that’s going to push them into the future,” Jaramillo said. “What better thing for them to connect to than their roots, their culture, something that’s meaningful to them and their family?”
In addition to the community altar, the celebration will include live entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting, and art displays featuring local talent. Jaramillo said that there are few events in Lompoc centered on “this kind of deep cultural context,” so he particularly enjoys seeing how students participate and get involved in this event each year.
“It’s that student excitement that I really look forward to,” he said. “It’s just seeing the parents and their children come together to just celebrate this event.”
Similarly, LUSD outreach consultant Manuela Venegas said she looks forward to watching students interact with activities that connect them with their cultural roots. Outside of this annual event, Venegas tries to help students in the district understand the significance of their backgrounds and how they can continue upholding traditions.
“I’m trying to teach our kids that, you know, it’s your responsibility to preserve what your ancestors started,” Venegas said.
According to Venegas, Dia de los Muertos traditions look different for every family, but one constant remains: It’s a celebration.
“It’s like our chance just to pretty much party with our ancestors for that little bit,” Venegas said. “Even though we know they’re not there, to us in our souls, they are there.”
For more information, visit facebook.com/LompocUSD or email diadelosmuertos@lusd.org.
Highlights
• The Pacific Southwest Region of the Los Padres National Forest nominated Santa Lucia Ranger District employee Helen Tarbet for the Gifford Pinchot Award for Excellence in Interpretation and Conservation Education. The regional office selected Tarbet for her contributions in developing and delivering interpretive educational programs over her 26-year career. Tarbet spearheaded the Santa Lucia Ranger District’s youth outreach program, bringing interpretive bilingual environmental education to nearly 3,000 students in 2024. She will now compete against other regional award winners across the United States for national recognition.
• People for Peace invites the community to a vigil for peace in the Middle East on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at the mural on Broadway, located between Santa Maria City Hall and the library. People are encouraged to bring candles, flowers, and pictures of those who have been lost in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon, and organizers also invite faith leaders to say a prayer for peace. For more information, contact Gale McNeeley at gale.mcneeley@gmail.com or (805) 406-4997.
Reach editorial intern Emma Montalbano through the editor at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 10, 2024.
