TIETON, Wash.- Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead is commonly celebrated over 48 hours from November 1-2. La Catrinas, or skeleton women, ofrendas, or offerings and sugar skulls are all common parts of the celebration.
October 27 marked the start of the celebration for Tieton Arts and Humanities as the community altar was unveiled. The Mighty Tieton Warehouse hosts the ofrendas as one of the largest displays the organization has put together.
“This is the 14th year we’ve been doing this,” says Arts Director Rosie Saldana. “We’ve just been making it bigger and bigger and bigger every year, also kind of changing the theme.”
This year’s ofrenda’s theme is the Tree of Life, boasting neon colors in a black lit room. On the display are pictures of loved ones who have died, in an effort to connect families together.
“It’s a day to just remember those that we have lost,” says Saldana. “Remember those that we love, just thinking about them, celebrating them. Remembering different memories about them, and just coming together with family.”
Sugar skulls and pictures are common offerings to the altars. Many pictures on 2024’s altar so far have been collected over the years, as families are expected to add to it in the next few weeks.
“It’s nice because families come back and they’re like, ‘Oh, there’s my grandpa, there’s my grandma,’ and it’s just it creates a really special environment,” says Saldana.
In just the first hour of Sunday’s event opening the ofrenda to the community, over 300 joined the celebration.
“They want more celebrations, more cultural things that represent the people that actually live here in this community,” says Saldana. “It’s just really special to see all the support we’ve been getting throughout the years.”
Saldana has been with Tieton Arts and Humanities for five years now. She says before joining, she never celebrated Dia de los Muertos. Now immersed in the tradition, she’s able to participate and connect with her lost loved ones.
“A lot of these traditions and celebrations were lost within my family,” she says. “It’s been really nice doing this because I get to learn more and about my culture and all the great things about it.”
Now, she has pictures of her grandfather on ofrenda as well as an item with special connection.
“My grandpa loved drinking rainier beer, so we put a Rainier beer on the altar,” says Saldana.
It’s not just favorite drinks that people place on the altar. It’s meant to be anything their loved one identified with.
“Maybe specific clothing that somebody wore. It’s different to see what people bring, but it’s really nice. I think that adds a lot more character and it makes it way more special,” says Saldana.
The community ofrenda will be open until November 16. The altar and gallery celebrating Day of the Dead is open Friday and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.
