A Day of the Dead celebration with a parade, giant puppets, lanterns adorned with bright flowers and hundreds of participants will be held Saturday in New Haven.
The event, hosted by Unidad Latina en Acción will mark the traditional Día de los Muertos but is dedicated this year to 20 migrants who died in the custody of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Mayor Justin Elicker, state Sen. Gary Winfield, and several city alders will join the event, aimed at “bringing a message of remembrance, honor, and hope for the migrant community.”
Pedro López, a Guatemalan art historian, directed the event.
“It is always exciting to spend a few weeks creating art to honor our ancestors, but because this year marks our fifteenth anniversary—the quinceañeros—it feels particularly moving and magical,” he said in a release.
John Lugo, lead organizer with ULA, said the event will serve as a memorial.
“In response to escalating violence and discrimination against immigrants, our community gathers to honor lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to justice,” Lugo said in the statement. “This year has been especially difficult. Latinx individuals, people with darker skin, and those with accents continue to face increased targeting. The recent assault of a young man in Bridgeport by four men wearing ‘FBI’ jackets has left our community deeply unsettled.”
Lugo said the community has been resilient despite the increased ICE enforcement. “Immigrants are kind, hardworking, and integral to the social and cultural fabric of greater New Haven,” he said.
Día de los Muertos originated with the indigenous people of Mexico and Central America and has been infused with Catholic traditions as well. Families often create altars for the dead with photos, flowers and favorite dishes to encourage their spirits to visit.
For the New Haven celebration, “ULA invites the souls of ancestors and loved ones to visit and celebrates their memory while calling for dignity, safety, and respect for all. Community members are encouraged to bring photos of departed loved ones to place on the community altar (ofrenda), have their faces painted, and join the parade in this vibrant celebration of life and remembrance, ULA said.
The festival will begin at 4 p.m. with face painting from Bregamos Theater, 491 Blatchley Ave, New Haven. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and will be followed by live music and Latin food, including chocolate and pan de muertos. Suggested donation of $20.
For more information, visit facebook.com/ulanewhaven.