Upper School Students Honor Dia de Los Muertos with Collaborative Artwork

November 18, 2021

During the month of October and ending early November, students learned about Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a holiday which is celebrated in parts of Mexico and Latin America. Each grade-level advisory, 6-12th, produced collaborative artwork in the form of an altar or poster that is typically associated with this holiday. Additionally, each advisory selected a social justice activist that has passed and that they will honor to highlight the person’s dedication to making their community and the world a better place and/or whose deaths ignited others to engage in "good trouble" with the aim of improving unjust societal constructs and actions. 

Students discovered that the Día de Los Muertos celebration is a jubilant and festive tradition that unites families and establishes a sense of identity. They learned how it is an indigenous tradition consisting of “a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion, and Spanish culture.” By connecting the element of social activism to this tradition, students were able to become more knowledgeable about the sacrifices others have made to make our society a better place. 

The objective of this project was to bring about cultural awareness of a traditional holiday that is connected to both Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month and to the current Indigenous People’s Heritage Month in November. Throughout the month, each advisory is taking a gallery walk to appreciate each other's hard work and learn about their classmate's chosen subjects.