Day of the Dead altars are a fundamental part of the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico and some other Latin American cultures. This festival, which takes place on November 1st and 2nd, is a special occasion to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.

 

 

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This beautiful tradition has spread around the world and is now celebrated in different countries. Due to the proximity between San Diego and Tijuana, it is very common to see this ritual taking place in various cemeteries in California as well, as people who decide to migrate to the United States not only bring their desire to move forward but also their traditions.

 

 

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Angelica Palacios, one of the many people with Mexican roots, commented to Baja News about her Day of the Dead altar, which has a 13-year legacy in San Diego and, as she mentioned, will continue to be passed down.

 

"Our altar is purely Chichimeca, the 'Barande,' which is the offering made especially for our souls who have passed on to a better life. They are the conquering souls of the four winds; that's what we call them because they are our dancing souls who left us our traditions. They walked through many places in Mexico, from Alaska to Patagonia, you could say. We are dancers; we are from the land's tradition, throughout Latin America, North America included." Angelica Informs BajaNews. 

 

 

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She also mentioned that this tradition has been passed down through seven generations in her family, starting with Ramón Gonzáles and Maximiliana Mendoza, who were among the founders of "the dance."

 

 

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The dance originated in Querétaro in 1531 during a major battle between the indigenous people and the Spanish. A cross appeared in the sky, and the indigenous people exclaimed, "He is God." They believed that the cross was God and that it came to calm their spirits and bring about peace. So, when we dance, we say, "He is God," as a way of saying, "Let's go to the peaceful battle."