BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The colorful alters, magic and nostalgia.
Dia de los Muertos is a celebration, honoring the life of our loved ones who have transcended into eternal life.
17’s Gabriela Rosales had the chance to visit Greenlawn Cemetery and talk with some people who are honoring the lives of their loved ones. The tradition is very much alive here in Bakersfield.
Janet Stebbings, a celebrant of Dia de los Muertos, always pays tribute to her husband.
“You want the world to know that they were a person and they were here and they did exist and they made a mark on a lot of people in this world. And a lot of people miss them very much,” Stebbings said.
Ofrendas, the majestic altars with emotional messages, enhance the memory of departed souls. Honoring them with flowers, paintings photos and even bread and tequila.
Fidel Franco with Greenlawn Funeral Homes said, “Most impactful things that we see here is the fact that families come in and make these elaborate altars, where they come in and they remember their loved ones, they really put a lot of effort and emphasis on remembering their loved one and when you see those altars quite frankly, its a work of art. It really tells the story of that loved one who is no longer here with us.”
Stebbings continued, “When I look at all the sights out here and how beautifully some of the families decorate them, it lets you know people care for them and that they still are remembered.”
Day of the Dead is a celebration that came to life with Aztecs and Mayans when the Spanish arrived and now, it has found its way across the country into our home towns.
“So the importance of celebrating day of the dead is that we have a lot of families that follow that cultural tradition that they’ve been doing for many years and obviously here in Bakersfield we have that cultural heritage that is embedded within the community,” said Franco.
Greenlawn Cemetery will be hosting a Dia de los Muertos grave decorating event on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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