Gainesville embraces El Día de Los Muertos, honoring heritage and community

As the sun disappeared on Nov. 1, Gainesville's community came alive with the colorful sights and sounds of El Día de Los Muertos. The traditional Mexican holiday, observed on Nov. 1 and 2, honors deceased loved ones through vibrant altars, offerings and other cultural celebrations.

Día de Los Muertos, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as an Intangible Cultural Heritage , is rooted in ancient Aztec traditions and later adapted to correspond with the Catholic feast days of All Saints and All Souls.

For some community spaces across Gainesville, the day served as a bridge between cultures and a powerful celebration of remembrance.

Despite being many miles away from Mexico, Gainesville residents kept their spirits high by bringing unique cultural traditions and enriching the local area, with Día de Los Muertos as one of the most visible.

At UF, the Mexican American Student Association, or MASA, hosted an event open to both the campus and the broader Gainesville community.

MASA hosted a celebration Friday at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom including educational components, with members explaining the cultural significance of the holiday to attendees.

Maria De La Cruz Mora, a master's student at the Latin American Studies Center and Vice President of MASA, expressed how meaningful it was to create an inclusive space on campus.

"We've incorporated a lot of educational parts," Mora said. "So for us, it means a lot of informing and about educating, providing guidance on the different symbolic representations, different traditions."

MASA members from diverse regions of Mexico shared their unique perspectives, illustrating how Día de Los Muertos customs vary widely within the country.

"Being composed of students from all over Mexico, we share different aspects of tradition, so it just means having... this circle of 'Oh, I can share with you a little bit of me and my identity and we'll honor it,'" Mora said.

For Jose Barco, MASA's president and a 21-year-old computer science senior, El Día de Los Muertos has a deeply personal meaning.

"I really appreciate the holiday because it really unifies not only people within the culture, but people broadly, because it relates to a very human aspect of life, and that aspect being death," Barco said.

He described how the event at UF provides a rare opportunity for reflection and connection.

"Sometimes, when you're thinking of the concepts or just wanting a past loved one, it can feel isolating," he said.

Barco's family, living in Orlando, now celebrates the holiday more privately.

Growing up, he often heard stories from his parents, who experienced larger celebrations in Mexico, complete with music and dancing. The celebrations were a large part of his parents' childhoods, he said.

However, without a nearby Mexican community, his family observed the holiday more quietly.

"For us, we didn't have that sort of larger Mexican community where I was growing up, so it wasn't like a communal event," he said. "It was more so just thinking about the tradition."

Just beyond campus, La Tienda, a local Mexican restaurant, provides a taste of home for many celebrating El Día de Los Muertos in Gainesville.

Jhovany Santiago, a 32-year-old Gainesville resident from Mexico who has worked at the restaurant for over 14 years, shared how the restaurant has previously observed the holiday with decorations and traditional attire.

"In previous years, the staff would dress up to celebrate a little bit," Santiago said. "The people who come to the restaurant appreciate that."

He highlighted the importance of serving authentic Mexican dishes like tacos, tortas, mole and barbacoa during the season.

Santiago reflected on the pride he feels when customers experience traditional Mexican food at La Tienda.

"People react to the food here because it's more authentic than they might find elsewhere," he said. "It's real Mexican food."

Santiago hopes that visitors leave with more than a meal.

Nationwide, this holiday has become increasingly celebrated, as families across the United States remember loved ones and share Mexican culture.

Through celebrations at the university and in local businesses, Gainesville residents honor both life and memory, sharing in the joy and traditions of El Día de Los Muertos and uniting community members across backgrounds in a celebration of remembrance.

It leaves Mora with a special feeling — it's about having the space to celebrate life and death together, she said.

"It's not just for Mexican students, but it's for students that have been affected by the loss of a loved one," Mora said.