The well-known holiday, Dia de Los Muertos, is actually a syncretic holiday whose most ancient origins can be traced back several millennia, long before the Spanish invasion.
The Day of The Dead, we Honor, Remember, and Celebrate our Ancestors
These days, Dia de los Muertos is most well known as a Mexican holiday, but it is actually a syncretic holiday whose most ancient origins can be traced back several millennia to long before the Spanish invaded the area.
While many different Indigenous Peoples of Central and South America, both ancient and present, have celebrated some form of ancestor worship and honoring of the dead, they all share a common thread: a belief in the afterlife.
When people die, they don't cease to exist — instead, their soul carries on to the afterworld. In their societies, belief in the cyclical nature of life and death has resulted in a celebration of death, rather than a fear of death.
Death is simply a continuation of life, just on another plane of existence.
These beliefs continue today in the celebration of 'The Day of the Dead' or 'Dia de los Muertos' in many parts of Latin America.
Ancestor worship or honoring celebrations for the dead are very important because the belief is that a discontented spirit can return to haunt the family and bring bad luck, while happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families. Ofrenda or alter building is thought to keep the family close.
Join us in celebrating, remembering, and honoring our ancestors.
The festivities will include:
City of Laguna Beach Proclamation
Embracing life & Honoring Death themed art show/auction
Live entertainment
Death by chocolate encounter
Libations
Ofrenda altars
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