Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, was a celebration held at Millcreek Common on November 1 and 2 that was sponsored by the nonprofit, Una Mano Amiga, (a friendly hand). 

This Mexican holiday is based in Aztec tradition and honors deceased loved one’s lives by creating altars filled with photos and items that remind families of the deceased. It also included offerings for the spirits and a celebration.

To prepare for the event, people built altars for the deceased family members. The Ofrendas or offerings were placed at the altar to help bring the spirits home. This activity was open to anyone who wanted to participate at Millcreek Common area and on the sixth floor of Millcreek’s City Hall.

Rocio Mujica Aguilar de Mejía, the executive director of Una Mano Amiga talked about the importance of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. “I left my country, Mexico, when I was 14 and I brought my culture with me. I lived in California for 18 years. When I moved to Utah 30 years ago, I brought my culture with me here.”

“Una Mano Amiga is the organization that created and started teaching my culture. Dia de los Muertos is my culture. Una Mano Amiga is an organization that has been recognized by the governor and the mayors, and by the police department.” Mejía said.

Millcreek offered a free place for the community to celebrate Dia de los Muertos by providing a place to build altars and then add the offerings. 

“When you place ofrendas on the altar, you place fruit, water, salt to protect the spirits, candles and lights so that the spirits follow the lights to get to us. They drink water, and get purified with salt. They go back to eternal life after the celebrations of the Dia de los Muertos,” Mejía said.

Many altars were set up for family members and even one for the children and adults that lost their lives at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. 

In the Disney Pixar movie, “Coco”, the audience was introduced to Dia de los Muertos as the young boy, Miguel travels back to the land of the dead to meet his ancestors. The character, Mama Coco from this movie was allegedly based on a real woman from Mexico.

Maria Salud Ramirez from Mexico lived until she was 109 years old. Pixar met with her before the movie and the character Mama Coco looks just like Salud Ramirez. Pixar has always denied that Mama Coco is based on any real life character.

“A few years ago, I decided to meet Mama Coco,” Mejía said. “She would sleep on the floor and she was very sick and did not have very much. So many people came to see her and tell her we meet you in the movie. Mama Coco did not understand what people were talking about.”

“I painted her room for her and asked her what she wanted for her next birthday and she said, ‘I want tacos, I want cake, I want tequila and I want to dance,’” Mejía said. Mama Coco got what she asked for except the tequila and she even danced.

Rachel Nasse, events manager of Millcreek city said, “People could build their own altars or add to an altar. You could get a candle and write your loved ones name on the candle and put it on the altar.” Candles were provided by Millcreek.

“Cempasúchil, or marigold flowers are paper flowers used on the altars. Their significance is they are native and bloom until the end of the season. The Aztecs grew them and so this becomes part of the celebration and a very significant symbol. The aroma draws the souls here,” Nasse said.

People were provided with the materials and instructions to make these flowers and add them to their altars.

“Katrina parade is also very significant in the celebration and having your face painted,” Nasse said. Katrina represents all women and a group of 50 children led the parade and the dance party that followed on the final day of Dia de los Muertos.

The hope is that this very moving tradition will become more popular with the community and continue for years to come in Millcreek. λ