According to Tomas Tecuanhuehue, Head Chef at Casa Reyna Mexican Restaurant in the Strip District and native of the Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, El Día de los Muertos celebrations often span over five days.
Celebrations begin on the 28th of October and end on November 1st. Each day celebrates something different.
On October 28th, families celebrate those who have died in accidents or have been killed.
October 29th is reserved for children who died at birth.
The 30th of October is for those who died from other causes and the 31st is for close family members who have died.
After visiting the graves of those who have passed, families spend November 1st making offerings, small crafts, food and sugar skulls in celebration. Offerings often consist of food or drink items that were the favorite of the deceased while they were alive.
Megan Rooney, Director of Education at La Escuelita Arcoiris a spanish language immersion program for young kids, started celebrating the Day of the Dead each year after she lived in Mexico for several months, after her mother died.
“When you experience it in Mexico, it’s so brightly colored. We need to relive the wonderfulness of that person’s life in this way, on this day, each year,” she says.
Some of the Pittsburgh festivities in celebration of the holiday include Día de los Muertos Costumed Sidewalk Stroll Gallery Crawl, and Community Art-Making in Garfield from 6-9pm today and the Family Fiesta which takes place at the Kaufman Center at Hill House on Saturday Nov. 2nd from 2-5pm.
