Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a traditional Mexican holiday when family and friends remember those who have died. But it’s a more joyful celebration than the title suggests. It’s a time not only to honor the deceased, but also to celebrate life with gifts, treats, music and dance.
On November 6, Redwood City held its own Day of the Dead festival, organized by Casa Circulo Cultural, at Courthouse Square. Home altars, called ofrendas, lined Broadway and inside the San Mateo County History Museum while crowds of revelers shopped at artisan booths, ate Mexican delicacies and enjoyed live cultural performances. Actors, dressed colorfully as the dead, roamed the crowds, pausing solemnly to have their photos taken with patrons. Nobody looked scared, but all seemed happy.
