DC | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Name: DC | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Start: 2024-10-26T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-10-26T17:00:00-04:00
Location: Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Schedule

Sat Oct 26 2024 at 10:00 am to 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian | Washington, DC

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and honoring the cycle of life. Enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the day, including dance performances, artist and food demonstrations, coloring activities, and paper marigold and mask making. Visitors are invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their names on a butterfly to attach to the memorial arch.
LEVEL 1
11 AM, 1 PM, and 3:30 PM: Dance Performances by Grupo los Tecuanes (Potomac Atrium)
The name of the Danza de los Tecuanes (Dance of the Jaguar) is rooted in the Mixtec understanding of the duality of life and death and the fight of good against evil. The Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Old Men) is a humorous dance featuring dancers colorfully dressed as old men.
12 PM, and 2:30 PM: Dance Performances by Cetiliztli Nauhcampa (Potomac Atrium)
New York-based Aztec dance group Cetiliztli Nauhcampa will present traditional dances around the community ofrenda to honor ancestors.
2 PM: The Xoloitzcuintli: Ancient Dog Breed to Movie Celebrity (Rasmuson Theater)
Museum folklorist Cynthia Vidaurri presents a talk on the xoloitzcuintli, commonly referred to as the Mexican hairless, an ancient dog breed that is deeply engrained in the culture and cosmologies of Mexico’s original peoples. These dogs were believed to be companions in life and in the afterlife, guiding souls to their final resting place. The character Dante in the Disney/Pixar animated film Coco introduced xolos to people outside Mexico and became a fan favorite. The breed was on the verge of extinction but has made a dramatic comeback, and today is recognized as a symbol of Mexico.
LEVEL 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center
10:30 AM-12 PM and 1:30 PM-3 PM: Sugar Skulls and Magnets
In place of sugar skulls, participants will decorate plaster skulls to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Traditionally, sugar represents the sweetness of life, and the skull represents the sadness of death; life cannot exist without death, nor should death be feared. The art of making and decorating sugar skulls continues to be practiced by select artisans who carry on the knowledge of this traditional art form. Recommended ages 3 years and up. Limited seating is available.
Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium and Rasmuson Theater, Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Cost: FREE