On Wed., Oct 28, students from anthropologist Susan Paulson’s Peoples and Cultures of Latin America class (ATH 350)opened an exhibition on the Mexican celebration Dia de los Muertos or “Day of the Dead” in MacMillan Hall. About 95 people attended.

The students gave a Power Point presentation describing their research and the choices they made in constructing the displays.

The day of the dead is celebrated in many Latin American countries, they said. It is associated with the Catholic holidays All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2). The day of the dead is celebrated across a wide range of traditions in different countries and regions, and between different families

The students constructed three different altars to commemorate the dead. The first simulated a traditional Mexican display featuring such items as an arch made of corn stalks, pictures of loved ones, marigolds, skeletons (Calaveras), and pan de muerto (“bread of the dead.)”

The second altar had a Miami University theme as a tribute to Miami’s bicentennial. Its arch was wrapped in red flowers and it had pictures of people who have been influential to Miami over time. The students created this altar.

The third altar commemorated those who had died while attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the United States. The arch is wrapped in barbed wire and it featured information about people who die trying to cross the border.

The exhibition ran from Oct. 19 through Nov. 30.