Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic Vision, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Families gathered to celebrate el Día de los Muertos with food, music and cherished memories at the Cooley Landing Education Center in East Palo Alto on Sunday.
They came to pay homage and joyfully recall the lives of family and friends who had passed on.
As parents and children entered, they were met by an ofrenda, an altar of offerings, where pictures of the departed were placed to honor and celebrate their lives.
The aroma of Mexican hot chocolate, conchas, and empanadas filled the air. The tantalizing treats beckoned visitors to indulge in a taste of tradition and warmth, setting the stage for a delightful and nostalgic experience.
Stations offering candy sugar skulls decorated with frosting and face painting were set up by the organizers, Grassroots Ecology and Nuestra Casa, as well as colorful displays of papel picado or “pecked paper,’’ a traditional artisan work made by cutting designs into tissue paper.
Rashel Naranjo Arellano is a sophomore at Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto.
