People across Tulsa will celebrate Día de los Muertos, translated to “Day of the Dead,” this weekend to honor their loved ones who have died.
Tulsa Flyer brings you a breakdown of the holiday and where to celebrate it.
What is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)?
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico to honor and commemorate people who have died.
It is rooted in Indigenous and Spanish Catholic ritual customs, according to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, a museum to be built in Washington, D.C.
When is it celebrated?
The holiday spans two days: Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.
On Nov. 1, families honor deceased children in their lives who have died. The following day, families celebrate and honor the lives of adults who have died. Typically, families celebrate Day of the Dead all day Nov. 2.
How do people celebrate it?
Families create ofrendas, or altars, translated to offerings, with belongings to remember their loved ones.
People place their loved ones’ favorite foods, drinks and items near the altar, which could be public or private. Families will place photos of the departed as well. Families may place toys for children or alcohol for adults on their ofrendas.
Offerings encourage visits from the dead as they hear families’ prayers and smell their favorite foods, according to the official Day of the Dead website.
How can you celebrate in Tulsa?
Run for a Cause: Day of the Dead 5K – Mita’s Foundation x DJ Gato!
The Mita Foundation, a Tulsa-based charity supporting impoverished children and families in Peru, will host its third annual 5K walk and run starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at 5501 S. Yale.
You can register to run online. Registration ends Oct. 31.
Día de los Muertos Art Festival
Living Arts of Tulsa will host its annual Día de los Muertos Art Festival from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at 307 E. Reconciliation Way. The downtown event, presented in partnership with fellow Tulsa arts group Casa de la Cultura, features an altar exhibition, live performances, free art kits and food trucks.
Muertitos Family Fest 2025
Tulsa Global District will host Muertitos Family Fest 2025 starting at 4 p.m. Saturday at 1801 S. Garnett Road on the eastside. The event will include a Sprint Kids’ Race, ofrendas, an outdoor screening of Disney Pixar’s “Coco” and more.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
Lea este artículo en español aquí.
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