Altars called ofrendas (offerings) are usually decorated with photos of the deceased, marigolds, sugar skulls, and the deceased’s favorite possessions or foods.
Everyone has their way of honoring deceased loved ones. Each way must be respected and Dia de los Muertos is no exception.
Story by Jennifer Hernandez
Photos by Ashley Nava
Austin offers many Dia de los Muertos activities for all to enjoy, including Mexic-arte’s Viva La vida parade to the Mexican American’s Cultural Center festival. Easterseals Central Texas, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and providing aid to people with disabilities, hosted their fifth annual Dia de los Muertos music festival at Stubb’s this past Saturday. Proceeds went back to Easterseals. The lineup included local acts like Tiarra Girls and Grammy Award-winning band, Grupo Fantasma.
Traditionally, Calavera (skull) face painting is done as a means of mocking death.
This event was not your usual night at Stubb’s. For starters, an altar was set near the entrance, which had Calaveras, candles and pictures of various Mexican singers who passed away like Juan Gabriel.
The indoor space had lots of local vendors and face-painting booths. Children and adults alike participated in this activity. There was also an Abuelitas stand, a hot chocolate staple in various Latinx households during the holidays. Although it still felt like summer, that did not stop people from getting a free sample.
Bombasta, a band from San Antonio, went onstage to perform resistance-fueled cumbias for the crowd. Many of their songs include both English and Spanish lyrics that mention being proud of their Chicano roots. Bombatsa has a lot of band members so it’s no wonder they call themselves “barrio big-band.” Their cumbia influences are prominent as they mix hip-hop, rap and rock in their music.
As Bombasta’s set came to an end, a large circle of dancers formed near the stage. Many more people started showing up and joined the circle as the night progressed. Before they left the stage, the lead singer thanked everyone at the concert and those who went to the protest that occurred earlier in Austin that day.
Grupo Fantasma was another big band but but it was different from Bombasta. They utilized more salsa and tropicalia influences. Since the band is from Austin, they seemed to be happy performing at home. Their songs were more light-hearted, featuring topics about love and life.
Much like well-known cumbia remixes, their songs were lengthy but since they offered a variety of rhythms and breakdowns, it was surprising when the band ended. Considering the various stages Grupo Fantasma has performed around the world, they were the perfect closer for this annual festival.
The statement that perfectly summed up this night can be found in the merch booth, Bombasta was selling a shirt that said “Don’t Gentrify our Muertos.” While Dia de los Muertos can be fun, it is important to think beyond the aesthetics and respect its Mexican origins. The beauty in Dia de los Muertos lies in its purpose.
