CUCC Youth build an Ofrenda
Eleven of our youth and six adults had a great lock-in evening last Friday! We learned about the spiritual tradition of El Dia de los Muertos (a celebration originating in Oaxaca, Mexico, thousands of years ago). In our own culture, death is considered a sad thing, and people don’t speak openly about it. We offer condolences to friends or family who have lost someone, but then we don’t speak of it again if we can help it. People are left to grieve silently, either alone or within their immediate family.
The people of Mexico feel differently – El Dia de los Muertos is an annual community party. Each member of the community gathers to celebrate those who are no longer with us. Central to this celebration is the Ofrenda, layered shelves with photos of loved ones who have died, things to remind them of the way home, and food and water for the journey.
Ofrenda means “offering”, and we knew we wanted to build an Ofrenda this year, to honor friends and family members who have died, to share a celebration with our community, and to honor the traditions and culture of Oaxaca. So we painted our faces, painted picture frames and filled them with photos, and remembered good times with our beloved family and friends. Through love, stories, and celebration, we experienced a little of what the people of Mexico feel - that on one day a year, El Dia de los Muertos, they are truly reunited with their loved ones. Please join our celebration by visiting our beautiful Ofrenda in the fellowship hall between now and November 27.