Día de los Muertos Celebration + Video
I remember being a little girl and walking to the Ysleta cemetery with my grandma. The cemetery was only a couple of blocks away from our home and I was always scared of it. It is a very old cemetery. Most of the plots are simple, not ornate. Some plots are marked with small barriers, like stones; and some are marked with wooden crosses. There are no trees or grass – its just dirt.
My grandma held my hand with one hand and carried flowers from her garden in her other hand and we walked around the cemetery until she found her “angelitos” little angels.
She dusted off their gravesites and placed flowers for her two children who passed away in 1943, one month right after the other. Her son Jesus Manuel passed away before he was three years old and her other son, Francisco died before he was one. I remember asking my grandma how they died and she got teary eyed and didn’t answer, so I never wanted to ask her again.
I never knew why we were at the cemetery on that chilly fall day; I just knew it was a special day. Now I’ve come to realize that it must have been Día de los Muertos.
Today I’d like to introduce to you my lovely daughter, Maya. She is 12 years old and is my guest blogger today. If you have been following Muy Bueno for a while you know that I love to celebrate Día de los Muertos and enjoy sharing the true meaning of the holiday.
For me this holiday is a day to honor those that have passed. Like my grandma did, I never want to forget our departed loved ones.
This time I asked my daughter to share what she thinks the holiday represents. I really didn’t know what to expect when I asked her to script a story for a Día de los Muertos video. To be honest I was blown away. I invite you to read what Día de los Muetos means to her and watch the video we made, narrated by my daughter. It is by far my most favorite video. I am so proud of her! I am completely in love with it and I hope you are too.
Take it away Maya~
My family has been celebrating Día De Los Muertos since I was eight years old. We decorate an altar with photos, favorite foods, drinks, and memorable items of our deceased loved ones.
This year we wanted to extend the celebration and invited friends and family to join us in celebrating the lives of their departed loved ones. It was a chilly day, but we kept warm by the fire as we drank Mexican hot chocolate and ate all you can eat churros.
We celebrated with my cousin Danica who is honoring her grandpa Wolfgang.
My little brother Blake who is honoring our great-grandma Jesusita and our uncle Wolfgang.
My friend Zeta who is honoring her cousin Matthew.
My cousin Dominic who is honoring his grandpa Wolfgang and his Grandpa Fred.
And I am honoring my great-grandma Anita.
What I like best about this holiday is putting on makeup that makes me look like a sugar skull, hearing stories about my ancestors about what they did in their lives, and getting to know them – it feels as if they are here with me.
Here is a video we made together, sharing what this holiday means to me. I hope you are inspired to celebrate the lives of your departed loved ones.
Special thanks to everyone who assisted to make this day possible.
Photography: Jeanine Thurston / Video: Pure Cinematography / Children: Danica, Blake, Zeta, Dominic, and Maya / MUA: Leilani Drum / Hair Dresser: Karen / Costume Design: Yvette and Jessica / Altar Styling: Lola’s Cocina / Crochet Poncho: Made with Love 4 You / Set Design and Decor: Brenda and Karen / Production Assistants (AKA hubbies) Bill, George, and Augi / Transportation: Lexus
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16 Comments on “Día de los Muertos Celebration + Video”
A beautiful video! Thank you!
Hello Yvette,
I love the music behind the clip. What is the song? How can I access it? It is so beautifully created and it has inspired me to create a dance based on the festival.
I’m sorry I don’t know what it is called. I’ll have to ask my videographer. I’ll get back to you. Best wishes on your dance.
What a beautiful video! I am so intrigued by your messages!
Thank you for including Zeta in this tradition that has exposed many of our family and friends to this beautiful way of celebrating our family and friends. I know many that are going to participate in building an altar this year. Thank you!
I didn’t know much about this celebration until a few years ago. Love the video and the photos are amazing. Sharing!
Absolutely beautiful and priceless video of life love and familia. Gracias
Thank you so much for your beautiful video. I am a Spanish teacher and will definitely share this with my students! ! Gracias.
The video is beautiful! Great job, Yvette!
Beautiful face painting and photos! I always thought this was scary growing up, but no more!
I love SO MUCH about this blog post and video! Your story about grandma and your walk to the cemetery brought back soooo many memories. And Maya is incredibly articulate and did an amazing job of writing her story both here and for the video. She may be following in mommy’s footsteps when it comes to writing! 🙂 The video brought tears to my eyes. To share Dia de los Muertos through the eyes of children is truly beautiful. I know exposing Danica to this holiday has generated a lot of questions and conversations, and my hope is that we begin this annual tradition in our home as well. She misses her grandpa Wolf dearly (as do I), and this will be a wonderful way to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. Thank you for that!
Yvette, this is beautiful! Maya and the whole production crew did a great job.
Beautiful story and it was very well narrated. Maya you did a great job, and the rest of the children were fantastic. Everything is so well put together.
Precioso el post y el video.
Va por muy buen camino tu niña y tienes toda la razón para sentirte orgullosa.
I live in Cartagena, Colombia and was exposed to this Celebration during my years in Texas. I always felt this Mexican Tradition was very meaningful and wished other Latin Countries would embrace it.
Very well done, your daughter did an amazing job. !!!!
Beautiful video! Your daughter did an amazing job!