The artist, activist and educator attended the prestigious Academia de San Carlos, and the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) School of Painting and Sculpture, in Mexico City.Ī muralist and a visual artist of international acclaim, Carlos Hernández Chávez’ work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the region and abroad. Considered by the media as ‘the first Mexican in Hartford’, Carlos’ multidisciplinary arts training and deep cultural roots are the source of his decades-long, prolific career. The Connecticut Science Center recently completed the very first installation of an Ofrenda in the building, created by local artisan Carlos Hernández Chávez’ that was on display October 21-31 in Science Alley. Dia de los Muertos is in reality a joyful celebration of life. Huge parades are now becoming another tradition around the country with thousands of costumed people as La Catrina, a Day of the Dead icon, floats, musicians and dancers celebrating the holiday. Ofrendas can be simple or highly elaborate and one can find them in homes, cemeteries, churches, museums, and in many towns’ main plazas all around Mexico in ofrenda competitions. One can see wandering musicians at the cemeteries playing music of all kinds at grave sites, and overhear people’s conversations that include storytelling and much laughter. Pan de Muerto or Bread for the Dead and water are also a must in the belief that the returning dead will be thirsty and hungry from their journey.Īll around Mexico families gather at cemeteries where they tidy up their loved ones’ graves, decorate them with cempazuchitls and candles, and often spend several nights in vigil or vigilia, keeping company with the souls of their dead relatives. Traditional objects that are also placed on the altars include sugar skulls, or calaveras, often decorated and with the names of the deceased inscribed on their forehead the deceased’s favorite foods that include mole con anjonoli, a dish made of a variety of chilis garnished with sesame seeds tequila or aguardiente, candies and fruit. A path made of these flowers is often placed around the altar for the same purpose. The cempazuchitl or marigold is the symbolic flower that is placed there with the belief that these flowers are light and guide the souls of the departed to the ofrendas. A photo of the deceased being remembered is the most important object on the ofrenda. Entire families build their ofrendas with a mix of ancient cultural practices and religious images and objects. Ofrendas or altars are the tradition during Dia de los Muertos. After the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, it was merged with the Catholic holidays of All Souls and All Saints days and celebrated on November 1 and 2 every year.

Ancient Aztecs honored their dead with rituals during the harvest season, and viewed death like the seasons - a cycle of life, death and rebirth. Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

Traditional dia de los muertos altar