Sweet Sorrow

Synee Cagnolatti, a senior at Chatsworth High School, admits she had no idea what Dia de los Muertos was before participating in a class project that taught her about the Mexican holiday observed Nov. 2 to honor dead loved ones.

About 300 students took part in the Day of the Dead project, creating Mexican folk art, skeletons and skulls traditional in the observance that Catholics in other countries know as All Souls’ Day.

Monday in the school courtyard, students set up a huge, elaborate altar covered with framed pictures of departed loved ones, handmade sugar skulls, shoebox-size mini-altars and special food offerings.

The altar was anchored by two large skeletons--a male and female--with colorful, sequined drapes over their bones.

A parade of students, some wearing handmade masks and others waving skeleton rattles, led a procession around the courtyard and to the altar.

The procession, led by two students carrying a black coffin decorated with colorful skeletons, featured a drummer and students with black and white makeup to symbolize calaveras or skulls.

When the students arrived at the altar, one explained the ceremony’s meaning in Spanish, followed by an English translation. Then merengue music by popular Puerto Rican artist Elvis Crespo blared from two speakers, and students and teachers began dancing.

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“This is a very religious holiday for Latinos, and I respect that,” Cagnolatti said. “I’m really glad I learned about it because I knew nothing at all. I had never even heard about Dia de los Muertos.”

The school held its Dia de los Muertos celebration a day early because the students’ work will be included in the annual Olvera Street Plaza Dia de los Muertos festivities today.

“This is part of a course that started at the beginning of the semester and includes part of the past, present and future,” said Kathie Donner, the Chatsworth High art teacher who organized the event. “They all had to pick someone dead to commemorate, a loved one or even a pet.”

Some students chose famous figures like basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, tejano singer Selena, comedian Lucille Ball and actress Marilyn Monroe.

Senior Matt Funicello honored the U.S. Marines by including a photo of Marines in his silver frame.

“Because so many died in Vietnam and I’m going into the Marines, so they’re special to me,” he said.

Haley Fair’s frame had a photo of her late mother. The senior proudly showed off her sugar skull decorated with colorful icing and aluminum foil.

“These weren’t very easy to make,” she said. “They took a lot of work, but they look great.”

Fair said she only learned about Dia de los Muertos through the class project, which is part of the school’s humanities program.

“This has been a very good experience,” she said. “It’s always great to learn about other cultures.”