Calgarians celebrate Day of the Dead at Jack Singer Concert Hall festival

Day of the Dead observed in Calgary A free, family-friendly event helped mark this year's Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in Calgary. Nicole Di Donato reports.

Calgarians marked Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Sunday.

Casa Mexico and Arts Commons co-hosted the free, family-friendly Día de Muertos 2023 event.

“It’s a very special occasion, and we just want to celebrate what is life about,” said Miguel Cortines, president of Casa Mexico.

The holiday is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, when all souls of the dead are believed to return to the world of the living.

People put out an altar with photos of their dead loved ones as a way to welcome them.

Mera Reyes is from Mexico City and marks Día de Muertos each year.

“Personally, I’m summoning my grandmother and my grandfather,” she said.

“Everything in the altar has a meaning and an importance, and we also kind of summon them with their objects, their personal objects.”

Reyes performed at the event, telling stories about what the day is all about and singing songs.

The event featured various other performances, art displays, along with traditional Mexican foods, such as tamales and Bread of the Dead.

People could even get sugar skulls painted on their face — something that has become a symbol of the Day of the Dead.

Cortines hopes the holiday will continue grow in Calgary.

“Very universal concept that I think we share a lot of values and a lot of cultural elements and community elements as well,” he said.

While Día de Muertos is primarily a Mexican tradition, the event welcomed people of all backgrounds.

“It’s an opportunity to come and share with us and learn. We would love for you to know more, to come with respect, with wonder and with curiosity,” Reyes said.

“It is a ritual. So, if you just keep that in your heart, in your mind, you can join us.”