UC Classmates Create Day of the Dead Altar

The Day of the Dead holiday in Mexico looks a lot like Halloween, but it’s a bit different. UC students in a Spanish language class taught by Professor Kirsten Nigro have created a typical Day of the Dead altar laden with skulls, marigolds, candles, Mexican treats and photographs. It is displayed on campus through Friday, Oct. 31, and will head to the Cincinnati Museum Center this weekend.

Date: 10/29/2003 12:00:00 AM
By: Marianne Kunnen-Jones
Phone: (513) 556-1826

Photos By: Dottie Stover

At first glance the Mexican holiday known as the Day of the Dead might appear to be related to Halloween. But students in a course on Mexican culture taught by University of Cincinnati Professor of Romance Languages Kirsten Nigro now know better.

Pix of Mario Rubio and Shelby Shenkelman

Students Mario Rubio, left, and Shelby Shenkelman made sugar skulls for the altar.

Her Spanish language class has constructed a Día de los Muertos altar similar to the kind Mexicans create each Nov. 1 to allow the living to celebrate the dead. The UC student’s Day of the Dead display is on exhibit in the Max Kade Center in Room 736, Old Chemistry, from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. now through Friday, Oct. 31. Then on the weekend, the students who created it will take it to the Latin American Cultural Fest at the Cincinnati Museum Center from noon- 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-2 for a display that they will staff.

Students Stacey Bill, left, and Rachel Burns.

The student’s altar is dedicated to the seven astronauts who died in the Columbia disaster earlier this year and Cuban “salsa” singer Celia Cruz, who died in July. Their class meets from 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, in Room 46, McMicken Hall.

The altar was dedicated to the Columbia astronauts who died in February, as well as Celia Cruz.

According to Nigro, the holiday is rooted in Catholic/Native American tradition. The altar – laden with frosted sugar skulls made of sugar, egg whites and water, a glass of water for thirsty spirits and incense, candles, toy skeletons, intricately cut tissue paper, pictures of the Virgin of Guadalupe and other items – is meant to be joyous. Other celebrations common for the Mexican holiday are picnics at the cemetery, fiestas, and drinking and eating together with friends and family (living or dead).

Contact: Kirsten Nigro, 513-556-1838