Our Annual Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) Ceremony
The community event is held at The School of Arts and Culture at The Mexican Heritage Plaza and features kids activities, live entertainment, food trucks, arts & crafts, face painters, vendors, an ofrenda (offering space), shopping, contests and more.
Join us in celebrating Mexica culture in San Jose, California and enjoy a family-friendly, community event.
FAQ's: Day of the Dead
(Día de Muertos) Ceremony
What is Dia de Los Muertos?
Dia de Los Muertos is a celebration of life.
The celebration originated in central and southern Mexico and dates back 3,000 years, during the time of the Aztecs.
Those who celebrate it believe that at midnight on October 31st, the souls of all deceased children come down from heaven and reunite with their families on November 1, and the souls of deceased adults come visit on November 2nd. The festivities continue in the cemetery, where families bring picnics, play music and sometimes even spend the night as a way to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer on this earth.
Why do you paint your face for Dia de Los Muertos?
In the past, participants and dancers used careteas, or masks, to scare the dead away at the end of the festivities. But in modern-day celebrations, people paint their faces to look like skulls, decorating it to represent a deceased loved one or an expression of themselves.
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