Day of the Dead comes to Montevallo

By Dione Thrift

A lot of people are familiar with normal traditions of Halloween.  There's trick or treating, carving pumpkins, and spending time watching scary movies, and telling scary stories. One thing though that is not as known is the celebration of the dead.  In most Latin American countries, people honor the dead around Halloween to early November. This is called Day of the Dead

Jason Cooper

 The make alters of loved ones that are familiar to the deceased.  Usually photos are put on them, as well as candles to welcome them back to the land of the living. Also added to the alters are skulls, religious items, as well as images of various saints.   So what brings this tradition to the University of Montevallo?

Day of the Dead Alter

Spanish 201 students have been partaking in this tradition since 2002, and every year the displays has been available for people to see in the library on campus.  Librarian Jason Cooper, has been apart of helping set up the event for quite some time, and he is very knowledgeable on the subject.  "Some believe that the spirits of the dead actually come back to our world to be rejoined by their loved ones."