DIA DE LOS MUERTOS + 

PAST ALTAR EVENTS

2023 ALTAR: TRADITIONAL + TREE OF LIFE

OCTOBER 21: Altar Building & Paper Marigold Making
NOVEMBER 4: Disassembly & Ceremonial Fire
OCTOBER 21-NOVEMBER 4: Altar Open to the Community

This year our community altar space grew to the largest installation and attendance to date and it was absolutely glorious! Here is the information on the 2023 event.

This is your altar!
Build the Ofrenda: Come create it with us, learn about Dia de los Muertos symbolism and origins and the ways in which we invite community members to engage with the space and make it their own. Gather to make traditional paper cempazúchitl (marigold) flowers to decorate the community altar and take one home for your own remembering practice. Ceremonially open the altar with us and strengthen our community together.

Attend the Ofrenda: You are encouraged to bring paper offerings (photocopied photographs glued to card-stock, poems, drawings, etc.) to hang in the Tree of Life or add to the ofrenda. Small calavera cards will be provided as will information about this sacred practice and the space we’ve created. The altar space will remain up to receive community offerings and as a gathering place until November 4th (weather permitting). The official days of celebration for Dia De Los Angeles (Day of the Angels for our departed children) and Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) are November 1-2. Please note that the altar is outside and accessible to the public. Use offerings and remembrance items you are comfortable leaving in the elements, unguarded. I recommend photocopies of photographs and important documents, representations of special objects and memories, cards, flowers, etc. Laminated items, plastic, metal, or items otherwise unsuitable for burning cannot go into the Ceremonial Fire. If it is important to you that your item be part of the closing Fire Ceremony, please note that laminated items and items otherwise unsuitable for burning cannot go into the Ritual Fire. Please collect any personal items you wish to keep by the day before the Fire Ceremony or join us at 3:00 on Nov. 4th for the disassembly and closing ceremony. There are innumerable ways and opportunities to participate and the Ofrenda will be completely accessible to all, for the entire duration of the event, from the October assembly through the November ceremony. Please be mindful that the altar is in our yard but respectful participation and contemplation are encouraged without time-limits. The altar is always open. Sign-ups appreciated for planning purposes if participating in crafting or disassembly/fire. Please join us; many hands and hearts make the greatest magic. Our community is not defined by geographical-space but by heart-space and we welcome you into ours.

Disassembly + Ceremonial Fire: Join as we unite for the loving disassembly of the altar and ceremonial fire, in the culmination of our annual remembering practice (weather permitting and sign-up necessary). We will disassemble the area (traditional ofrenda, the Tree of Life, information table and seating areas, lighting, etc.). Once disassembly is complete we will begin our Ceremonial Fire in which we acknowledge the importance of our remembering practice, speaking the names of the dead and burning offerings and items that were part of our altar. We send these and our prayers upon the smoke of sacred copal. we will close the ceremonial sacred space and return it to its mundane purposes.

This place and all events are family-friendly, inclusive, loving, safer spaces. If an offering is deemed inappropriate it will be removed, blessed, and respectfully disposed of.

Family Friendly Event.

What is Remembered Lives

2022 ALTAR: THE TREE OF LIFE

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER, 2022

Every year we gather to remember and honor our beloved dead with the Annual Dia De Los Muertos & Dia De Los Angeles Community Altar.

You are encouraged to bring paper offerings (photocopied photographs glued to card-stock, poems, drawings, etc.) to hang in the Tree of Life. A hole punch and small calavera cards will be provided on the front porch (to protect them from the elements). The altar space will remain up to receive community offerings and as a gathering place until a date in early November (weather permitting). The official days of celebration for Dia De Los Angeles (Day of the Angels for our departed children) and Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) are November 1-2. Please note that the altar is outside and accessible to the public. Use offerings and remembrance items you are comfortable leaving in the elements, unguarded. If it is important to you that your item be part of the closing Fire Ceremony, please note that laminated items and items otherwise unsuitable for burning cannot go into the Ritual Fire. Please collect any personal items you wish to keep by the day before the Fire Ceremony or join us at 12:00 as we unite for the loving disassembly of the altar and ritual fire, in the culmination of our annual remembering practice (weather permitting). There are innumerable ways and opportunities to participate and the Ofrenda will be completely accessible to all, for the entire duration of the event, from the October assembly through the November ceremony. Please be mindful that the altar is in our yard but respectful participation and contemplation are encouraged without time-limits. The altar is always open. Sign-ups appreciated for planning purposes if participating in crafting or disassembly/fire. Please join us; many hands and hearts make the greatest magic. Our community is not defined by geographical-space but by heart-space and we welcome you into ours.

This is a family-friendly, inclusive, loving, safer space. If an offering is deemed inappropriate it will be removed, blessed and respectfully disposed of.

To participate or see the altar during its installation please contact me for the location address (no sign-up necessary).
Sign-up to join us for the formal Assembly/Craft or Disassembly/Ritual Fire. ALTAR: THE TREE OF LIFE

2021 ALTAR: THE TREE OF LIFE

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2021

I am excited to announce the return of the Annual Community Altar. This year’s altar will have a new theme: The Family Tree of Life, and be different from the ofrendas of the past as we adjust to accommodate the forecasted weather while continuing to provide an altar space for your remembering practices. Community members are encouraged to participate in the creation of the altar and invited to share personal and group remembrance-practices in any way that speaks to them. Altar creation and paper marigold making will be held as usual. The free guide to personal altar creation and the book list remain available.

2020 ALTAR: FREE GUIDE FOR PERSONAL ALTAR PRACTICE

OCTOBER 2020: Building a Personal Altar & Remembering Practice

In light of the global pandemic and personal circumstances I will not be hosting the creation of the annual public/community ancestor altar this year (2020). I have, instead, created a simple, free, printable guide to building your own personal ancestor altar and remembering practice for those interested in exploring this deeply meaningful and sacred tradition. In addition, my dear friend and sister-altar-builder, Natasha Bodorff, has curated a list of books on the topic of Dia De Los Muertos, for those interested in learning more (especially our youngest community members). I bid you peace and solace.

NOW AVAILABLE FREE

PRINTABLE GUIDE: 2020 Remembering Our Beloved Dead: building a personal altar and remembering practice

PRINTABLE BOOK LIST: Dia De Los Muertos book list: a collection of book suggestions curated by sister-altar-builder Natasha Bodorff, Boulder, CO

2019 ALTAR: TRADITIONAL

OCTOBER 12, 2019: Altar Building & Paper Marigold Making
NOVEMBER 9, 2019: Disassembly & Ritual Fire
OCTOBER 12-NOVEMBER 9, 2019: Altar Open to the Community

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to past altars and community requests, the Community Dia De Los Muertos Ofrenda is now an annual event. Community members are encouraged to participate in the creation of the altar and invited to share personal and group remembrance-practices in any way that speaks to them. Altar creation and paper marigold making will begin at 12:00, October 12th, and is a casual event. The ofrenda will remain up to receive offerings and as a gathering place until November 9th (weather permitting). If rain or high winds are forecast we will be required to alter these dates and plans. The official days of celebration for Dia De Los Muertos and Dia De Los Angeles (the children) are November 1-2. Please note that the Ofrenda is outside, accessible to the public. Please only bring offerings and remembrance items you are comfortable leaving in the elements and unguarded. I recommend photocopies of photographs and important documents, representations of special objects and memories, cards, flowers, etc. Laminated items, plastic or items otherwise unsuitable for burning cannot go into the Ritual Fire. Please collect any items you wish to keep November 3rd - 8th or join us at 12:00 on the November 9th as we unite for the loving disassembly of the altar and ritual fire, in the culmination of our annual remembering practice. There are innumerable ways and opportunities to participate and the Ofrenda will be completely accessible to all, for the entire duration of the event, from October 12- November 9, 2019 (weather permitting). Sign-ups appreciated for planning purposes. Please join us; many hands and hearts make the greatest magic. Our community is not defined by geographical-space but by heart-space and we welcome you into ours.

This is a family-friendly, inclusive, loving, safe space. If an offering is deemed inappropriate it will be removed, blessed and respectfully disposed of.

To participate or see the altar during its installation October 12th - November 9th, 2019, please contact me for the location address. Sign-up below to join us for the formal Assembly/Craft or Disassembly/Ritual Fire.

2018 ALTAR: TRADITIONAL

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

In an offering to the community and in response to your requests, I am sharing my personal, annual, Remembering Practice and Dia De Los Muertos Altar and inviting you all to participate. As many of you know our private family altare and ofrenda has historically been built in our home. This year the altar will be placed outside and community members are encouraged to observe, contribute, meditate, pray, sing, share stories, and engage in any way they feel called to, making it their own. This is intended to be a family space; all are welcome. The Altare is open to the elements so please bring only family-friendly items you are comfortable leaving unguarded. The Altare will be up and accessible October 20 - November 10th. Dia De Los Muertos and Dia De Los Angeles are observed November 1 - 2. Please retrieve items you wish to take home before disassembly on November 10. I hope you join me in honoring and celebrating the cycles of life and our beloved dead. I bid you peace.