For most people in this country, November 2 is just November 2. But where Sidney Tovar '26 grew up, the second day of November is "insane." This month, she brought a little bit of the insanity, and culture, to Siena.
The dearly departed may no longer be with us, but their memories live on as long as we care to remember them. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - a holiday with roots in Mexico, though celebrated throughout Latin America and by Mexican communities worldwide - pays tribute to the dead, while beautifully mocking death itself.
"I grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, and it's such a big deal there," said Tovar. "The thing I remember most - it's everywhere. There are just too many celebrations and too much food. The schools decorate and even compete against each other. Sometimes school is even canceled."
Two years ago, Siena hosted its first Día de los Muertos celebration. It was a game first effort, but it lacked much of the tradition, symbolism, and flair of a true Day of the Dead party. Last year, November 2 came and went without a party. But this year, Tovar who is president of the LatinX Student Association, reached out to the Spanish Club president, Gabrielle Hix '26, and they conspired to conjure (the memory of) the dead in the student union, like never before. (The International Student Association, Latin Dance Club, and Damietta Cross-Cultural Center also contributed to the event's success.)
"For me, it was personal," Tovar said. "I lost five family members last year, including my great grandmother. I know they're still with me, and I want to celebrate them like I would back home. Plus, I was really excited to bring this to Siena and share this piece of my culture."
The Siena event followed a traditional Día de los Muertos playbook. They built an altar for the dead, which displayed photos of the departed and included favorite foods and drinks. Some people wrote and performed short poems, which are really light-hearted and sometimes mocking epitaphs. There was also dancing, music, and of course Calavera - traditional Day of the Dead elegant skull-inspired makeup. Siena Fresh catered the dinner and Stage III performed theatrical readings.
"I was really nervous at the beginning, but so many people showed up. We had to push back the start of the celebration by 20 minutes because people were still signing-in. I'm graduating, but I'm really hopeful that people will keep this tradition going at Siena."
After an event like this, it would be disappointing to go back to just a regular November 2.
"There was a lot of work that went on behind the scenes for this event, and it really gave me an appreciation of all the planning and thought that goes into each large-scale event hosted by the clubs at Siena. It was so rewarding to see students enjoying the event and food, and also engaging with the rich tradition of Día de Los Muertos. I am Catholic, so I grew up knowing about All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and Día de Los Muertos includes some of the elements of All Souls Day intermixed with indigenous roots. What stands out to me the most about Día de Los Muertos is the emphasis on celebrating the dead and reliving our memories with them. As Sidney explained to the host clubs and to the attendees during the event, this is not a day of mourning, and death is not seen as taboo but simply as a part of life. One of the most important things Catholics do is pray for the dead, so this takes on a special meaning for me.
I hope the celebration of Día de Los Muertos will become a regular celebration at Siena. Sidney and I will be able to pass the work we did on to future LSA and Spanish Club eBoards, who will be able to add their own insight and expertise just as we did."
Gabrielle Hix '26
