At the emblematic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, a great celebration for the Day of the Dead was held from its historic chapel.
The family celebration was an opportunity to remember those who are no longer with flowers, food, letters and other offerings.
“It is a very nice tradition of Mexicans that several of us, being Peruvian, am learning, this is my neighborhood and what a nice way to remember the people we miss so much,” said Marcela Mitaynes, assembly member.
In the chapel, a large altar honors the memory of departed loved ones. It is an installation by the artist Cinthya Santos-Briones, of Mexican origin.
It is a living piece from where people and families who come can put photographs of their loved ones, letters and light electric candles to honor their dead.
Manuel Gil, his sister and his wife visited the altar to remember their mother:
“It is tradition, as a Mexican, to be with the family that died. “It’s my tradition to bring bread and bring chocolate to my mom’s grave and say ‘hello’ and say, ‘well, may she be at peace,'” Gil said.
Children from several neighborhood schools also made shoebox altars as well as ceramic alebrijes to honor their deceased pets.
“It is very important for us to bring the Day of the Dead event to the entire Sunset Park community, most of whom are Mexican,” explained Ana María Aguilar. “So we like the children to participate and learn more about their roots. , about culture and how important it is to celebrate life. And we celebrate life by remembering the people who have died.”
“It is very important for us to be in a different country, to preserve our culture and really model it for the young people, for the children, so that they feel connected, so that they learn and feel proud of what we are doing, of their culture. “Mitaynes added.
And aside from the Day of the Dead celebration, during the event, elected officials announce funds for an educational and welcome center here at the cemetery.
The altar will be here available to the community until November 19.
