Day of the Dead growing in popularity in non-Latino community

*I’m not sure this is a good thing, at least not as it’s depicted in this article. Lucha Libre and a taco eating contest? I understand that culture is hybridized in the U.S., but we can do better. No? What do you think?  VL

By Crystal Chow, San Jose Mercury News

Here’s how much Western attitudes toward death and dying have changed: A movie examining the usually unsettling topics opened last week–and it’s aimed squarely at kids. The animated film, “The Book of Life,” centers around Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, an indigenous Mexican holiday that celebrates family members who have gone the way of all flesh. Its creator, Jorge Gutiérrez, says it’s his take on what happens after death.

Día de los Muertos–or Fiesta de Muertos or just Muertos–is observed each year from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. In California, with its rich Latino heritage, Muertos has become increasingly popular with non-Latinos, too. Locally, a diverse slate of events is planned, from storytelling at Children’s Discovery Museum to a procession and festival presented by the San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild. Calvary Cemetery in Alum Rock will hold a cultural and spiritual gathering with face painting, art, dance–even food trucks.

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[Photo by Kathy/Flickr]

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