San Angelo Celebrates Dia de los Muertos

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San Angelo, Texas; like so many blended communities with a strong Latin heritage, commemorates Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, day of communion with family who have passed away, with large parties which include friends and family. San Angelo Museum of Fine Art and Angelo State University have worked together the last two years to share the excitement of this celebration with everyone.

Every year people of Mexican heritage celebrate “The Day of the Dead” this celebration begins at midnight on October 31st and runs through November 2nd; also the minor holy days of “All Saints & All Souls Day” in Catholicism. During this time the celebrants believe the veil between this world and the afterworld is thin and allows loved ones who have passed on to return. They build elaborate altars called “ofrenda’s,” often a great expense to most rural families, which are believed to gain the spirits approval and blessings for the coming year.

Here in San Angelo the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts partners with the community to share the festival with the whole city. This year the event kicked off with traditional dancing from the young ladies of the Ballet Azteca. Over the past several years the Lincoln Junior High School Mariachi Band has offered this traditional music to events around the San Angelo area and performs at least once per semester. These young men and women cross cultural lines as the diversity of the region is represented within the group. Both performances thrilled the assembled crowds and educated them about the holiday.

With authentic food trucks, incredibly talented artist

displaying their wares and traditional costumes this year’s Dia de los Muertos festival was indeed a success. Each Thursday the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art will hold its “Art after Dark” program and continues to be a force to move the arts forward in San Angelo.