Evergreen Cemetery: "Celebrating the Dead" (Día de los Muertos)

SPECIAL TOUR: CELEBRATING 51-YEARS OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS!

In the fall and winter months, especially around the holidays, it is the custom of many cultures to remember our dearly departed. As we begin to celebrate our holidays, of course we remember our loved ones and how they brought joy to our lives. This will be our theme on this day, as we approach the winter holidays and consider the mourning rites of the many cultures which animate Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles.

Founded in 1877 in Boyle Heights, Evergreen Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles to be in continual use to this day. It is the most lovely cemetery in the city, and one which so proudly displays the diverse cultural heritage of early Los Angeles.

We will discuss:

• Evergreen Cemetery: The first and oldest privately operated and “non-segregated” cemetery in the city of Los Angeles. It is also the resting place of some of the most notable figures in early Los Angeles history, where African-American communal leaders are found laying side by side with local politicial figure. We have historical black figures who fought for their own freedom in the civil war, and even freed former slaves turned business mogouls such as Biddy Mason laid to rest here right along with the city fathers and civil leaders.
• The Potters Field: The Los Angeles County Cemetery and Crematorium: The resting place of the unclaimed dead of Los Angeles County, which are laid to rest every December before the holidays. We will be taking a moment to show our respects this day.
• The fall celebration of Día de los Muertos: This Mesoamerican/Mexican celebration which was reintroduced to Mexican-Americans by Self Help Graphics in the 1970s in this very location. Learn about the founding of this festival in East LA, and about the Chicano artists which helped to make it their own.
• The Chinese Cemetery and Precious Burners: The lost Chinese cemetery that was discovered during the construction of the Metro Gold Line light rail, and the Precious Burners for ritual offerings which date back to the 1800s. We will talk about the fall and winter mourning festivals honored by this culture.
• The Japanese Issei pioneer monument, and the Japanese American World War II war memorial dedicated the 442nd infantry war heroes.
• The Pacific Coast Showman’s Association - Showmen's Rest: In these most distinct plots acquired by this old world style guild of the carnival and circus folk, rest more that 400 people whose lives were spent bringing joy to the lives of others.
• And so much more!!!

We will be meeting at the gates of Evergreen Cemetery, for check-in at 11:45am so that we can start our tour promptly at 12-noon. The tour will last about three hours!

Host or Publisher Shmuel Gonzales, the Barrio Boychik