Day of the Dead Comes to Life at Campus

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

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

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

The big 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 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 and was 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.

“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 Day of the Dead celebration one 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 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 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.”