Stuyvesant Celebrates Día de Los Muertos In Honor of 10/31 Victims

Colorful decorations, delicious food, and festive music filled the fifth floor halls during the Foreign Language Department’s Día de Los Muertos celebration on Thursday, November 2. Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday to celebrate ancestors and lost loved ones.

The event was put together by Spanish teacher Abigail Carpenter with help from the rest of the Spanish teachers. “Carpenter started this [last year], which we [hoped would] be a tradition. She is an excellent organizer,” Spanish teacher Frida Ambia said.

The students in Carpenter’s four classes were also instrumental. They helped create and set up the decorations for the celebration. In addition to the colorful skeletons and paper garlands covering the walls of the fifth floor, students made a traditional Mexican altar.

Traditionally, the altar is created in someone’s honor. After the terrorist attack on Tuesday, October 31, the students in Carpenter’s classes decided to dedicate the altar to those who passed away in the attack. “I thought the tribute was really sweet. I think it was really important that the victims were commemorated and really nice that the Spanish Department thought to do that,” freshman Jessica Kwok said.

Throughout the day and after school, many students came to see the decorated floor. “The highlight was definitely the fifth floor because it was so beautifully decorated. All the bright colors and decorations were just extraordinary and made each morning great,” junior Kathryn Jano said.

“[Carpenter] painted faces for the students, which I think most of the students really enjoyed,” Ambia said.

Spanish classes also held small celebrations in their classes on November 2. They went outside to look at the altar, and during class they listened to and sang Spanish music.

Some students also made pan de muerto, which roughly translates to “Dead Bread,” a traditional food that is eaten on Día de los Muertos. “In the classroom, it was extremely fun to learn about it, especially the traditions. The recipes [for the food] were also extremely fun to make,” Jano said.

Many students enjoyed the celebration and also learned more about the holiday. “I learned about how different cultures are able to appreciate and celebrate those who have passed away. Seeing how food is a major part of Día de Los Muertos was very interesting,” junior Francis Park said.

Carpenter thought that the event was a success, as well. “It was just fun, and not everyone understood why we did it or what for, but it was still really fun to see people participate and just have a really good time. That was a tough week after everything that happened on Tuesday, so to be able to just take our minds off it and relax, that was special. It was pretty and festive,” she said