On Friday, Nov. 1, Archie Williams’ Students Taking Action for Anti-Racism (STAAR) Club held a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at lunch by the Senior Tree. The celebration invited Archie Williams students and staff to enjoy music, a trivia game, and sweet treats. The event aimed to celebrate Día de los Muertos while teaching the school community about the holiday.
Día de los Muertos, a Latin holiday celebrated Nov. 1-2, honors lost loved ones by celebrating their lives and keeping their memories alive. According to senior STAAR member Casey Lefevre-Trigg, it is important for Archie Williams community members to understand that Día de los Muertos doesn’t have to be a sad occasion, but rather a time to rejoice in their memory.
“Day of the Dead is a day to honor loved ones that have passed away, not necessarily in a dour or funeral-like way, more of a celebration,” Casey said.
Nick Ferguson appreciated that STAAR’s table included a variety of sweet treats for students to try, and adorned with informational signs about the Day of the Dead.
“I enjoyed the event because they were giving out pastries, which were really nice. I learned that Día de los Muertos is the Day of the Dead and is celebrated all over the world,” Nick said.
The celebration invited students to learn about Día de los Muertos and its celebratory traditions throughout Latin America, as it intertwines and connects with Indigenous celebrations and Christianity.
In addition to decorations and spirit, the celebration included a trivia game in which students and staff answered questions about the holiday and received treats in return for a correct answer. These treats included such as pan de muerto and hot chocolate. Pan de muerto, which translates to “bread of the dead,” is a traditional offering during Día de los Muertos and represents generosity, the cycle of life, and the warmth of family gatherings.
Sophomore STAAR member Gipsy Gregor, who helped coordinate the event, hopes it gave the holiday the recognition it deserves at Archie Williams and that students enjoyed learning about Día de los Muertos.
“I hope that this event can give more recognition around the holiday and also give people more knowledge about what Día de los Muertos is,” Gipsy said.
Archie Williams STAAR teacher LoRayne Reza connected the event to STAAR’s mission of anti-racism. STAAR hosts various events throughout the year celebrating the diverse cultures and traditions of students at Archie Williams.
“[STAAR] always likes to feature how we can amplify or make space for our various communities of color and how we can educate our students, staff, and our broader Archie community about different communities of colors and their celebrations,” Reza said. “Through learning, it humanizes [these communities] and hopefully helps to get rid of the hate that exists in the world.”
STAAR’s Día de los Muertos event invited the Archie Williams community to celebrate and learn more about Latin cultures and traditions promoting STAAR’s mission of anti-racism. STAAR will continue to host events that encourage the appreciation of students’ diverse identities throughout the school year.
