A Family Tradition of Altar Making, As Told by Rio Yañez

At the heart of Día de los Muertos is a celebration of the cycle of life. It's a time to talk with our dead. We sing to them, prepare altars with flower and food offerings, and share stories to keep their memories alive. It's both a sacred and joyous time. Here in the Bay Area, we go all out for the tradition. Elaborate public altars are constructed in parks, schools, and community spaces. Museums and galleries have exhibits with Day of the Dead themed art and installations. It's truly a moment of visibility for Latino/x culture and tradition. But it wasn't always this way in the Bay Area or the United States, for that matter. To shed light on the history of how Day of the Dead became such a tradition here in the Bay, we are talking to artist and curator Rio Yañez. Read the transcript here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices