By Claudia Martinez
On October 20, La Casa students got together for a different kind of study break. In celebration of one of Mexico’s most famous holidays, Dia de los Muertos, they built a Day of the Dead altar.
Traditionally, families build altars in their homes during the weeks leading up to November 1 as a way to celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed to the other side. In Pilsen, many events and festivities lead up to Day of the Dead, including the traditional Muertos de la Risa procession hosted by ElevArte Community Studio.
Maria Bucio, Director of La Casa Student Housing, wanted to give La Casa’s student a chance to take part in these festivities.
The study break brought students of different backgrounds together to celebrate this Mexican holiday and understand the traditions associated with it. But it did more than expose non-Latino students to this holiday. Many of the students currently at La Casa come from Mexican families but have never actually experienced the tradition of building an alter.
“I grew up knowing about it but I never celebrated it,” says Sam, a student who was born and raised in Chicago. “As a child I think I might have even confused it for Halloween.”
This is the problem many second- and third-generation Latinos face today: not being really connected to their traditions. La Casa events like these gave students the opportunity to embrace their culture.
“It connects us to our ancestors and families,” says Maria Bucio. “Sometimes it is not until we get to universities that we get exposed to these traditions.”
The altar honoring those who have passed is scheduled to be up until November 3rd and it is dedicated to three TRP co-founders and pioneers as well as loved ones of La Casa students.
Bucio plans to make this an annual tradition for La Casa students, but wants to make sure it doesn’t just stop there.
“This won’t be the only tradition that we have,” she says. “We will continue to celebrate the different cultures that we have at La Casa by doing something for Chinese New Year and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anything that celebrates diversity is definitely worth celebrating.”

Return to Nueva Vida October 2014 here.