New Rochelle Celebrates 'Dia De Los Muertos' With Zest For Life

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — There is every reason to look forward to "Dia de los Muertos" each year, especially if you happen to be in New Rochelle.

The City of New Rochelle and the New Rochelle Corporation for Local Development will celebrate "Dia de los Muertos," in collaboration with the non-profit United Community Center of Westchester (UCCW) and the city’s Hispanic-American Advisory Board on Sunday, October 30. The celebration is part of New Rochelle's continuing long-term commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

"Dia de los Muertos," or "Day of the Dead," is an important annual cultural celebration for Mexican families who welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes a celebration. The living family members acknowledge the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations and leave the deceased’s favorite foods and other specialty offerings at gravesites or on the "ofrendas" (altars) built inside each family's home.

The New Rochelle Corporation for Local Development is sponsoring this year’s event for the first time.

"The Dia de Los Muertos event is one of the most recognizable traditions across so many cultures where an Ofrenda (Spanish for offering) serves as the collection of offerings dedicated to the person being honored," said Adam Salgado, Development Commissioner of the City of New Rochelle and the Executive Director of the New Rochelle Corporation for Local Development. "As the city continues to rapidly grow across sectors, it is also important that we celebrate the multicultural diversity that New Rochelle represents and that our programming is reflective of the diverse communities across our city."

For the past seven years, UCCW has been celebrating "Dia de los Muertos" by making an altar and hosting gatherings to share in this cultural and communal celebration. Sunday's event will include music, traditional dishes, beautiful folkloric rhythms and mask workshops.

"I am thrilled to see the transformation of the City of New Rochelle while preserving the rich powerful history and the cultural contributions of this diverse community," Jackie Agudelo, Founder/ Executive Director of United Community Center of Westchester said. "We are grateful to the City of New Rochelle's Development Commissioner for the support and collaboration to carry out this beautiful event. Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead you will see as you walk through the Ruby Dee Park, exquisite threads that create tapestries that focus on legacies, families, and the beauty of our Latino cultures mixed into a Mexican tradition."

While the Dia de Los Muertos celebration may seem exotic to many, the day has been a part of New Rochelle's fabric for generations.

"As a proud Mexican-American Latina, I know how important Dia de Los Muertos is for my family and others alike," Council Member Martha López-Hanratty explained."The beautiful city of New Rochelle is viewed by so many as a melting pot of cultures and diversity. We are happy to share our wonderful tradition with the entire community."

The "Dia de los Muertos" event will be held both outdoors and indoors on Sunday, October 30 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the New Rochelle Library and at Ruby Dee Park, both located adjacent to one another at 1 Library Plaza, in downtown New Rochelle.