Halloween marks the end of summer, and Day of the Dead follows hot on its heels. Both holidays share the same motifs, with a focus on spirituality and death. However, that’s as far as the similarities go. Day of the Dead, known as “Dia de los Muertos” in Spanish, isn’t a holiday to dress up and go trick-or-treating; it’s a day to honor loved ones who have died.
In Latin American culture in Mesoamerica, death isn’t viewed as the end of a person’s existence. Indigenous people believed life was a cycle, and death was a natural part of life. The people or pets who died are just beginning a new stage of their life. Latinos often set up shrines and offerings for their loved ones , affectionately called “ofrendas”. Latinos treat “Dia de los Muertos” as a day to celebrate. The ofrendas are meant to lead the spirits back to their families. The bright colors are to help guide the spirits back.
The Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park aimed to honor this cultural holiday, with an art installation and ofrenda, Reposo y Recuerdo, to honor the loved ones of local Sunset Park residents and Latin Americans as a whole. Sunset Park has a high concentration of Latin residents, with over 40% of the population being Hispanic. This ofrenda was the work of local Mexican-American artist Laura Anderson Barbata, and took over the Green-Wood Cemetery chapel on October 9th; Reposo y Recuerdo will remain up until November 15th.
“The ofrenda at the historic chapel made me think about how death isn’t about forgetting someone but also continuing to honor and remember them,” said Tahreem Mahmood, a nearby resident who volunteers at the Green-Wood Cemetery. “I found it beautiful how they used marigolds and other flowers along with photographs and personal objects in order to celebrate the lives of those who had passed away. To me, it shows that remembering your loved ones can be a joyful experience, not just a sad one.”
The installation had papel picado (paper flags), paper marigold garlands, and papier-mâché skulls on every wall. Visitors to the ofrenda could also write the names and memories of their loved ones on red ribbons, to honor them. “My brother just died recently,” said a visitor to the chapel. “Being able to remember them in such a happy light? It helps curb some of the mourning.”
