Day of the Dead draws hundreds to a south Modesto park to honor lost loved ones
Yosephineh Vilchiz, 11, carried a framed photo of a cousin lost to leukemia at a south Modesto observance of Day of the Dead.
Saturday’s event at Fairview Park featured dance, costumes and an altar bearing mementos of deceased loved ones. It’s a Mexican tradition also known as Dia de los Muertos.
Yosephineh has her own altar at her Turlock home, where she has honored other family members in the past, mother Erika Vilchiz said. “This year, she wanted to dedicate it to Tony,” a cousin who died at 8 last year.
Several hundred people turned out for the gathering, hosted by the Stanislaus County Parks and Recreation Department and several partners.
Attendees watched a performance by Ballet Folklorico Los Falcones and another by Danza Azteca Kuaitli. Seven people were judged for the best costume representing the deceased — Catrina for females and Catrine for males. Yosephineh placed first among them all.
Welcome to the afterlife
The Fairview Park altar was made up of several hay bales along the basketball court. Families placed photos, candles, flowers, dolls and other items in memory of the deceased. One left a small guitar.
The offerings also can be bread, tamales and other food that people had enjoyed during their lives, co-organizer Mireya Santibanez said.
“After they die, they come and walk through this path where they come to get what they like to eat, the things they were doing in life,” she said.
Santibanez is a promotora, or health educator, for Sierra Vista Child and Family Services. It was one of numerous agencies with booths at the event. Attendees also could talk with police officers and firefighters about their work.
A connection to Halloween
And kids got a head start on Halloween with trick-or-treating in the park. That holiday’s original name was All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day in the Christian calendar. Day of the Dead also takes in All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2.
Another observance of Day of the Dead will be held Sunday, Oct. 30, in Modesto’s airport neighborhood. It will run 4-7:30 p.m. at 202 S. Santa Cruz Ave. Details are at www.casacultural.org.
