by Magdy Zara
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that symbolizes the temporary return of the souls of the deceased, who come back home to the world of the living to reunite with their families and to nourish themselves with the essence of the food offered on the altars set up in their honor.
The commemoration of the Day of the Dead takes place on November 1st and 2nd. In Mexico, it has various regional or state-specific variants.
Mexican citizens who have left their homeland have not only taken their suitcases with them but also their beliefs and traditions, which now form part of the popular practices in different countries across America, especially in the United States. Below is a brief list of some activities organized for the Day of the Dead in 2024.
Teatro Visión in San José invites you to celebrate the Day of the Dead with Macario, a play filled with music, dance, spectacle, and song, presented in Spanish with English and Spanish subtitles.
Macario is the classic story of a poor woodcutter who dreams of having a day without hunger. When his wife makes that dream come true, he receives a healing power that could change the lives of his family and community forever.
The premiere of this season’s Macario will be on October 10th and will run until the 20th of the same month. Performances will be at 8 p.m. at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theatre in San José, with tickets priced between $10 and $40.
Meanwhile, Latin GRAMMY-winning vocalist Lila Downs brings a special night of music to celebrate the Day of the Dead, where she will also present her latest album, La Sánchez, featuring folk dances and impressive visual projections inspired by various themes.
With “an impressive voice and a multicultural vision rooted in her Mixtec heritage,” she has built a career uniting cultures and languages as a musician and social activist for humanitarian causes.
The event is set for Saturday, October 12th at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, located at 2025 Broadway, Oakland.
The annual Día de los Muertos exhibition at SOMArts is one of the most internationally diverse Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States. It was founded 25 years ago by San Francisco artist and curator René Yañez.
This year’s exhibition has a different theme, serving as an “expression of solidarity, love, and justice,” as it will be dedicated to the genocide of the Palestinian people, reflecting on the impact of this ongoing trauma at personal, national, and international levels.
In line with the Day of the Dead tradition, the exhibition also features personal altars dedicated to loved ones who have passed away. Additionally, participating artists focus on creation as a form of resistance by setting up both traditional and contemporary altar installations that honor, celebrate, and mourn those who have died in Palestine.
The exhibition will be open to people of all ages until Nov. 4. The opening reception is this Friday, October 11th, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a suggested donation of $15 and free entry for children under 16. The SOMARTS Cultural Center is located at 934 Brannan Street, San Francisco.
Hija Pródigo Opens the SF Latino Film Festival
The documentary Hija Pródigo by filmmaker Mabel Valdiviezo will be the opening film of the San Francisco Latino Film Festival.
As the writer explains, the documentary narrates her journey after 16 years to reconnect with her Peruvian family, showcasing her experience as an immigrant in San Francisco.
Hija Pródigo is a cinematic exploration of family bonds, identity, belonging, and the transformative power of art through the narratives of human rights, gender, migration, belonging, and the transformative power of art.
Valdiviezo embarks on an emotional journey back home to Peru, filled with longing, to confront a whirlwind of emotions as old wounds reopen. Her mother’s perception of her absence adds to the complexity, leading to Mabel’s heartfelt confession about her troubled past marked by addiction and confusion as an immigrant in San Francisco.
This documentary also features intimate photographic paintings of the family, providing the audience with a broader view of life that distinguishes the “good migrant” from the “bad immigrant.”
The film will be screened this Friday, October 11th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Roxie Theatre in the Mission, located at 3117 16th St, San Francisco.
