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If you look at the digital altar, we have some people that have submitted ofrendas to their pets. I think that we should allow people to participate. Like I said earlier, if you're doing this to honor and celebrate a loved one, with that in mind, then there's no way you could celebrate this wrong. We're all human, and it's a form of Mexican expression that we want others to partake in, honestly. I think that the more people know about traditions and cultures and practices of nonwhite people or minority or marginalized groups, helps a lot in basically understanding those people.

'For many people who are not familiar with the holiday, this was their introduction to it, and I think that's great. I mean, we're talking about Disney - one of the largest media companies in the world creating a very successful movie,' Martinez said. The Oscar-winning Pixar film 'Coco' helped introduce a new generation to Día de los Muertos. And, it means a lot to be able to give them a platform or an opportunity to express that to our readers,' Martinez said.

But this was an opportunity to let people know that those who have passed during COVID were real people and meant something to someone. And because of that, we're seen as statistics. For us, it was important to give people an opportunity to make sure that their loved ones were more than just a statistic, especially because COVID disproportionately hit Black and Latinx communities in Los Angeles, so we bore the brunt of that. 'For us and by us, I mean Vanessa Martinez, who developed the web page, and Martina Ibáñez-Baldor, who designed the look for it. It's Día de Muertos - an opportunity to spend time with the memories of those who came before us.Īnd though death is at the forefront, #DiaDeMuertos is also a celebration of life. Given the last year and a half, Martinez says it is hard not to think about the ways people of color were impacted by COVID-19 when doing this project. So, it's very personal, but it's also very communal,' Martinez added.

So, we wanted to create a public digital space where people could contribute and feel like they're part of a larger community while also honoring their loved ones. 'For much of the last year and a half we've been living online, we felt that doing something in the digital space felt appropriate. The LA Times Latino staffers were inspired to do this project because of the Día de los Muertos altars at Grand Park in downtown LA and at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. But above, if you're doing with the intention of honoring and celebrating and remembering that person then you're doing it right. You put things that that person loved, and there are certain items you put in there. 'And how you do it is by making an ofrenda or an offering to that loved one. 'It's all about honoring and remembering loved ones that have passed on to the afterlife,' Martinez said. The holiday comes from a cultural point of view that sees death not as a finality but as moving on to the next stageĭía de los Muertos is celebrated by Mexican Catholics and many others in Mexico and the United States.

The Oscar-winning Pixar film 'Coco' helped introduce a new generation to Día de los Muertos.This year anyone can take part in the ritual of creating an altar for loved ones digitally.It’s that time of year in SoCal when we get to see and honor the rich Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos.

Dia de los muertos altar requirements