Right after Halloween and El Paso and many other border cities and throughout Mexico there is another day of celebration.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a great Mexican tradition that honors those who have come before us and have finished their time on earth. In so doing, the revelers pay their respects and celebrate living.

As usual there is a blending of Mestizo culture and the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church worships All Saints' and All Souls' Days at the same time. The result is that many people participate in Día de los Muertos by creating altars complete with the favorite foods and other rememberances of the departed.

There were plenty of celebrations going on in El Paso and especially on the Westside. One of the more celebrated events is put on by the nonprofit organizations La Mujer Obrera and Centro Mayapan on Texas Ave.

Some estimate that several thousand attended this event this year as in the past.

Also, this year there was a Día de los Muertos celebration on the Westside with fire dancers and plenty of music.

  Prepared by WestsideReader staff.

(Photos: File - Valley Publishing Company)

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