La Casita event offers opportunity for Toros ahead of Dia de Los Muertos.
By Jessica A. Valencia, Co-Managing Editor
Sugar skulls are an essential element to any ofrenda, or altar, during the Mexican celebration known as the Day of the Dead. The annual tradition, called Dia de Los Muertos in Spanish, commemorates death as part of the natural cycle of life rather than something to be feared.
The sugar skulls, with their colorful and intricate designs, serve as a way to honor and welcome the souls of loved ones. For Malinalziuatl, an indigenous Mexican educator, the holiday is fundamentally about connecting with the community.
Photos, candles, flowers, favorite food and drinks of the departed are placed on the altar alongside the sugar skulls. These items represent water, earth, fire and wind elements that were once offered to Mictecacinvatl, an indigenous deity who symbolized death.
“Growing up, I didn’t have this experience in school—it really means a lot to me to not only be the student but educate others,” said Malinalziutal. “It makes me really excited to [educate others], and I want everyone to feel proud of who they are and where they come from, regardless of whether we share the same culture.”
Malinalziutal shared a bit of her culture on Oct. 27 during a sugar skull decorating workshop hosted by La Casita. The intimate workshop was both creative and informative, teaching attendees about the history of sugar skulls, which trace their roots to pre-colonial Mesoamerican civilizations.
“This workshop meant a lot to me because it’s a tradition that lives in [my] household,” said Julianna Macias, a film, television, and media student. “I learned the origin of where they come from and what they meant.”
True to their name, sugar skulls were once made out of amaranth and honey. During the workshop, attendees were given skulls made of inedible white sugar.
Attendees were encouraged to decorate their skulls freely using brightly colored icing, with each hue carrying its own meaning. Purple and pink represented the ongoing “Ni Una Menos” movement against femicide in Mexico. Black symbolized onyx, a protective stone; green represented the earth; red signified fire; and orange stood for the cempasúchil, or marigold flower.
Students were invited to decorate their skulls in memory of loved ones or to honor victims of femicide, while others used the activity as a space for reflection and healing.
“At first I wanted to dedicate [the sugar skull] to my dad [but] midway through the workshop, something moved me to dedicate it to [my baby] that I lost from an ectopic pregnancy,” said one attendee, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of her participation.
Photos, candles, flowers, favorite food and drinks of the departed are placed on the altar. These items represent water, earth, fire and wind elements that were once offered to Mictecacinvatl, an indigenous deity who symbolized death.
Once students finished decorating their skulls, they could either take them home or leave them for La Casita’s larger ofrenda, which will be showcased during the Día de los Muertos celebration on the North Lawn in front of Loker Student Union on Nov. 6.
For political science student Jazmin Prado, the workshop served as a reminder of how valuable cultural representation can be on campus.
Prado said: “Even though I do not follow this tradition, it’s nice to know there’s a space where people can celebrate their culture and keep it alive.”