Madison Public Library will be celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) this year at two library locations on Saturday, Nov. 1. Both celebrations, taking place at Meadowridge Library and Goodman South Madison Library, will be supported by local folk artist Andrea Muñiz, a Mexican textile artist and community engager, born in Mexico City and raised in Hidalgo, Mexico.
Día de los Muertos — also known as Day of the Dead — is a traditional Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members who have passed. Altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of those being honored.
Attendees at both library events are invited to add their own artwork and family photos to the community altar, participate in arts and craft activities, and sample refreshments like Mexican hot chocolate and sweet bread.
The Goodman South Madison Library will host a Dia de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, 1-3 p.m. This bilingual, all-ages event features a community altar created by Muñiz, where you can add artwork and family photos. Attendees are encouraged to join in arts and crafts like painting cempasúchil (Mexican marigold) designs on fabric, play Día de Muertos-themed lotería, and bring their own photo to leave at the altar.
Día de los Muertos will be held at Meadowridge Library on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. Throughout the event, families can help make tissue paper banners to hang around the library, sample Mexican hot chocolate and sweet bread, explore a collection of painted ceramic skulls, and try their hand at digitizing old materials like photos, then printing them out to add them to the community altar.
Bilingual storytime with a special Day of the Dead focus will take place from 2-3 p.m. followed by Day of the Dead-themed lotería created by Muñiz from 3-4 p.m. and Cempasúchil flower (Mexican marigold) painting from 4-5 p.m.
