The Day of the Dead

Articles and photos by Jared Story

Pinkham School students have been learning about the Day of the Dead.

Jorge Requena, a local filmmaker and frontman of the band Mariachi Ghost, visited Pinkham on Nov. 1 to talk to Grades 3 to 6 students about Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Mariachi Ghost frontman Jorge Requena plays a song for Pinkham School students. Born and raised in Mexico, Requena visited Pinkham to talk about Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

The Mexican holiday, which takes place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, is a time when friends and families gather to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died. 

“In Mexico we believe death is a part of life,” said Requena, who immigrated to Canada from Mexico in 2003 to attend film school. 

“Instead of spending our time mourning and suffering, we want to accept it, we want to embrace the fact it happened, and we want to celebrate the life of people who have passed.”

Requena described a variety of Day of the Dead traditions, such as ofrendas, which are private alters containing sugar skulls (calaveras), Aztec marigolds, and favourite foods and drinks of the deceased.

Photo (from left) Pinkham students Cody, Logan, Joshua and Jerome display the art they’ve created based on Mexican culture and traditions.  

Pinkham arts teacher Amanda Andrade said the Day of the Dead education began at the start of the school year with a conversation concerning “courage as an artist.” 

“We started with a book, The Dot by Peter Reynolds, and that led into talking about a very brave artist, Frida Kahlo,” Andrade said. 

“We learned she was from Mexico and then the students were wondering ‘Where is Mexico?’ and ‘What does art from there look like?’ 

“We started exploring Mexican traditions and cultures and the students started noticing them in Frida Kahlo’s work. And that led us to the Day of the Dead celebration.”

Requena said it’s important that kids learn about an assortment of cultures and traditions.

“If we teach them to ask questions in an innocent child way, to educate themselves and not feel like its inappropriate to ask questions and learn, I feel they will grow up to be adults that will continue to do that,” he said.