“Day of the Dead” Celebration at Kean University

By Josephine Carrillo | Published November 20, 2022

The Student Government Association of the class of 2023, 2024, and 2025 held the Day of the Dead Celebration in the Miron Student Center on Nov. 1. 

Day of the dead (Dia de Los Muertos) is far from being the same as Halloween, an American holiday, where it is believed that evil spirits will come back to life to harm the living. 

Halloween is celebrated worldwide with people wearing costumes to scare ghosts away, decorating their houses with spooky ornaments, carving pumpkins, and going trick-or-treating. 

Day of the Dead is a ritual to remember loved ones that are no longer on earth and are on their journey to find eternal peace.

Day of the Dead is also known as “All Saints’ Day” or “El Dia de Todos Los Santos” and is celebrated all over Latin America. 

“Day of the Dead is a great way to remember family members that are no longer with us,” Nicole Gomez, a junior at Kean University said. “I never got the chance to meet my maternal grandfather, but every time my family would get together to celebrate All Saints’ Day, I would hear stories of what a good father and husband he was, and it felt like I personally knew him.”

This celebration gathers families together to celebrate and keep the memories alive of loved ones that sadly departed from their side. The stories told about them will forever live through generations, keeping the memory of them alive. 

“I’m Peruvian, I grew up in a Hispanic household,” Alexander Salazar, Senator of the Class of 2023 said. “Back at my old school, we used to celebrate the Day of the Dead. I believe this event is a cultural exposure for Kean students, to familiarize themselves and learn more about the different cultures and traditions.”

According to History.com, the dead have to go through nine challenging phases before getting to the gates of their forever home to finally rest. 

Their families reunite and put together altars with their pictures, food, and whatever tools they might need in order to motivate their souls to keep going until they reach their destination. 

It starts on Oct. 31, when it is believed that the gates of Heaven open their doors and let the ghosts of the dead return to Earth.

On Nov. 1, the ghosts of children reunite with their families at midnight and celebrate their traditions together.

On Nov. 2, the ghosts of adults will reunite with their families and be able to collect the offerings their loved ones brought for them to ease their journey. 

Even though the celebration of the Day of the Dead is being lost in certain countries over time, it is still one of the biggest celebrations in Mexico. 

Students that attended the event were provided with a little ceramic white skull and different color paintings, so they could decorate their skulls however they like. 

As you looked around the room, you could see students laughing, sharing their stories about their loved ones that passed away, and enjoying the time together while decorating their skulls.

Events like the Day of the Dead celebration are important to the Kean University community. They bring together different cultures and unite them, spread awareness, and emphasize the importance of learning about different cultures and traditions around the world. 

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