Dia De
Los
Muertos
(Day of
the
Dead)
walking
tour and
virtual
celebration
held in
Southwest
Detroit
through
Nov. 7
The
Southwest
Detroit
Business
Association’s
annual
digital
brochure
highlights
22
public
Ofrendas
(altars)
located
throughout
Southwest
Detroit
DETROIT
- The
Southwest
Detroit
Business
Association
(SDBA)
has
announced
the
launch
of its
annual
digital
brochure
to help
visitors
navigate
the
community-wide
celebration
and
visit
public
Ofrendas
for the
annual
Día de
Los
Muertos
(Day of
the
Dead)
holiday
– now
through
Nov. 7.
This
year, as
result
of the
COVID-19
pandemic,
a
virtual
tour of
the
Ofrendas
will be
available
online
beginning
Oct. 30
with
photos
and
videos
for
those
who
would
prefer
to
participate
from the
safety
of their
homes.
“The Día
de Los
Muertos
holiday
is a
celebration
of life
and
reminds
each of
us to
honor
and
remember
those
loved
ones who
have
passed,
but are
never
truly
gone,”
said
SDBA
Vice
President
of
Programs
&
Compliance
Jennifer
Gomez.
“We
invite
the
community
to join
us for
this
meaningful
holiday
that is
deeply-rooted
in
Mexican
culture
by
visiting
the
public
Ofrendas
in
person
throughout
Southwest
Detroit
or by
taking
the
virtual
experience.”
A
Mexican
multi-day
holiday
celebrated
throughout
Mexico,
Día de
Los
Muertos
coincides
with the
Catholic
observances
of All
Saints’
Eve
(Oct.
31), All
Saints’
Day
(Nov. 1)
and All
Souls’
Day
(Nov.
2). It
is the
time of
year
when
individuals
believe
the
boundaries
between
the
living
and the
dead
become
permeable,
allowing
the
souls of
the
departed
to
travel
back to
visit
loved
ones.
Elaborate
Ofrendas
are
created
with
pictures
of loved
ones,
food,
flowers,
candles,
religious
symbols
and
other
traditional
decorations
such as
sugar
skulls,
papel
picado
(pecked
paper)
and pan
de
muerto
(bread
of the
dead).
In
addition,
visits
to local
cemeteries
to honor
loved
ones are
common
during
the
celebration.
The Día
de Los
Muertos
digital
brochure
features
22
community
Ofrendas
located
at area
businesses,
nonprofit
organizations
and
churches
in
Southwest
Detroit.
The
virtual
experience,
which
will be
available
online
Oct. 30
through
Nov. 7,
includes
a brief
video,
photos,
and
description
of each
Ofrenda
highlighted
in the
brochure.
The Día
de Los
Muertos
digital
brochure,
videos
and
photos
have
been
generously
sponsored
by Ford
Motor
Company’s
Michigan
Central
Development,
W.
Vernor &
Springwells
Business
Improvement
District
and the
Mexicantown-Hubbard
Communities
Main
Street
Program.
There is
no cost
to
participate
and
visitors
can find
more
information
by
visiting
https://sothwestdetroit.com/ofrendas.
“We
are
proud to
be part
of this
community’s
rich
heritage
and
diverse
culture,”
said
James
Courtney,
head of
community
engagement
for
Ford’s
Michigan
Central
Development.
“We want
to be a
good
neighbor
and that
means
being an
active
participant
in
cultural
events
like Día
de Los
Muertos.”
The
Día de
Los
Muertos
celebration
in
Southwest
Detroit
coincides
with the
SDBA’s
2020
Virtual
“Run of
the
Dead”
5K/10K
week-long
celebration
beginning
Sat.,
October
31
through
Sat.,
Nov. 7.
The
annual
event
benefits
the
Center
of Music
&
Performing
Arts
-Southwest
(COMPÁS)
and
includes
a Run of
the Dead
“swag
bag”
with a
commemorative
T-shirt,
bib and
participant
medal.
Participants
can
choose
any day
or
location
during
the
week-long
celebration
to
complete
the run.
Registration
for the
Run of
the Dead
5K or
10K run/
walk is
$35 for
adults
and $20
for
youth.
To
register
for the
event
and/or
for more
information
visit
www.southwestdetroit.com/community/run-of-the-dead
.
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