Here in Tucson, the celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is one of the most important and popular events of the year. This celebration shares deep-rooted Mexican American traditions with the entire community. Tucson’s signature event, The All-Souls Procession, brings thousands of people together to celebrate and honor the dead. It is set to take place until November 9th.
People throughout the city set up ofrendas (altars) with marigolds, pictures of loved ones who passed away, candles, sugar skulls, and treats for the deceased. At the Tucson Museum of Art, families come together to decorate sugar skulls and create altars, which is a separate event that brings the younger generations together.
The All-Souls Procession celebration is symbolic and exciting, and has been a Tucson tradition for 36 years. People dress in beautiful dresses, paint their faces like skeletons, and dance around, bringing joy to everyone grieving the loss of their loved ones. The artistic director of the event, Nadia Hagen, says, “What we encourage is for everyone to bring their history, culture, and personal remembrances.”
Yvette Madison, social media director for All Souls Procession, explained that “You can expect to see people with floats and puppets and people walking around with their loved ones on poster boards and photos.”
While Tucson’s Dia de los Muertos event honors the Indigenous-Mexican roots of the holiday, it also brings the city together while reflecting Tucson’s multicultural character and the creativity of our citizens. The result is an all-inclusive and joyous event that brings families together to celebrate life and death.
