Altar displays of dead relatives and friends were set up for the public to view at the Montgomery World Plaza from Oct. 23 through Nov. 4 to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead.
Dia de los Angeles is celebrated on Nov. 1, and is the same thing as Dia de los Muertos but is believed that it is the day that the children who have died come to visit.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation sponsors the event and has been going on for 18 years in Kern County and is organized by Cruz Ramos.
Celebrated by many Latinos, Dia de los Muertos is a day to celebrate and remember the life of a dead loved one.
An altar of things that their dead loved one liked or enjoyed doing is displayed, along with a picture of them, and is surrounded with calaveras, which are skulls made from sugar and flowers called Flor de Cempasúchitl, also called Flor de Muerto, which means flower of the dead.
Pan de Muertos, which means bread of the dead in spanish, is also placed on altars of dead loved ones and is eaten on the actual day of Dia de los Muertos.
The welcoming of the spirits for Dia de los Muertos consisted of a skeleton dance, ballet folklorico and drummers.
Indigenous leaders, who have been given permission to do blessings, blessed the altars with copal.
Copal is a resin made of a tree that is often used in the Catholic Church.
“Dia de los Muertos is a privilege to be celebrated in Kern County,” said Jess Nieto, executive director of Heritage of America Educational and Cultural Foundation.
Many people are frightened by Dia de los Muertos, said Nieto.
“It’s very misunderstood by the public in general, but I think it’s a great opportunity to remember your passed loved ones,” said Nieto.
“People are beginning to understand that it’s not scary,” said Cruz Ramos, organizer of Dia de los Muertos.
Ramos plans on continuing the celebration of Dia de los Muertos in Bakersfield for as long as she can.