El Día de los Muertos

The thirteenth Day of the Dead in Philadelphia is dedicated to  “México Lindo y Querido” which translates to “My Beautiful and  Beloved Mexico”. This patriotic phrase is from a famous song by  Mexican composer Chucho Monge and encompasses our sense of  pride in our November 1st celebrations. It also represents the theme  of La Ofrenda, the traditional altar erected to honor the dead, which  celebrates culture and tradition, and as the song’s lyrics imply, the  volcanoes, the fields, and the flowers of Mexico.

Maria Hernandez, the artist invited to bring her vision to La Ofrenda, built in the Fleisher Art Memorial Sanctuary, intends to honor her  homeland, her roots, and the beloved departed through her artistic  vision. Her focus is inspired by her humble and beloved birthplace,  San Juan Amanalco de Becerra, a place that still holds a beautiful  indigenous community in which craftsmanship is treasured. Known as  N’dabi, “the place where water abounds”, in the Otomí native  language. Amanalco is an enchanted municipality in the state of  México due to the spectacular natural surroundings, the cultural and  prehistoric legacy of the region and the prevalent Otomí residents  who continue to influence the way of living, promoting the use of  one’s own hands to create.

This Fleisher’s Day of the Dead celebrations has particular significance because in the Aztec world, the number thirteen is associated with the repeating cycles of change and the balance and harmony of opposites: the east with the west, the north with the south, Philadelphia with Amanalco, life with death, and night and day.  The number 13 is sacred and it emits positive energy that connects us to our ancestors and their beliefs and culture. That’s why our celebrations begin each year during the day and end at night, with our bodies in Philadelphia and our hearts beating to the rhythm of the homes we left behind.

On Friday, October 31, we invite the entire community to join us and help with the final preparations for La Ofrenda from 2-9 PM and to enjoy family workshops from 5-8 PM.

On November 5, the film club, El Conejo en el Faro, will hold a special presentation of the Luis Buñuel film, Ensayo de un Crimen (México, 1955) with a conversation afterwards.