First Day of the Dead festival connects Islanders with Mexican culture

Day of the Dead is one of the most important celebrations in Mexico, and for the first time islanders will be able to have an authentic experience with the culture.

By Val Mandujano, Nov. 16, 2023

A row of red, green, orange and yellow tissue paper with cut-out skull designs hung from the entrance. 

Marigold flowers were placed in pots on the floor at Island Hill Farm, Nov. 4, on the outskirts of Charlottetown. 

    At 5 p.m., the sun was setting, and people started to arrive to the first Day of the Dead celebration on Prince Edward Island.  

    The main barn was set up with round tables with candles and skulls on top.  

    On the left wall, long orange tablecloths, marigold flowers and series of lights covered a two-tier table. Which was surrounded with pumpkins and straw blocks on its skirts.  

    On the low level of the table, there were small and large photos and frames of people placed between each other. 

    Beside the altar, at a small stage on the corner of the barn, a Mexican singer belted at traditional songs and those who wanted to, could leave a photo of a loved one and learn about Mexican customs. 

The Ofrenda is a tradition during Day of the Dead in Mexico. Island Hill Farm celebrated the first event of its kind on Nov. 4, 2023, along with the Mexican food business Los Nopales. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

    Diego Montero, owner of a Mexican food business called Los Nopales, wanted to share his home country traditions with Islanders.  

    “For me it is important. It is part of who I am and where I came from,” he said. 

    The Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition, celebrated on Nov. 2, where people honor the memory of their dead loved ones. 

    “It is a night to celebrate the fact that they were alive and the time we spent with them.     That’s the main point, remembering them.” 

Traditional features

    Montero and his business partners from Los Nopales started organizing the event at the beginning of September 2023. 

    It turned out better than they were expecting. More than 100 people attended. 

    “It really touched me, the fact of seeing Canadians or people that doesn’t know anything about Mexico, bringing their little picture and putting their candle in the Ofrenda. It was beautiful,” he said. 

    On the event invitation, people were encouraged to bring a picture of someone they would like to put at the altar. 

    The altar is called Ofrenda in Mexico. It is a homemade tradition. A table filled with food, candles, flowers and everyday objects from the deceased as an offering to them. 

    “The main point of this event wasn’t the food or the music. It was the Ofrenda,” said Montero. 

Remembering loved ones

    There was traditional food like tacos, Pan de Muerto (Mexican, orange-flavored bread), corn and drinks.  

    Two hours after the event started, people were walking outside, looking at the vendors with themed decorated t-shirts and souvenirs.  

    Some were walking with colorful flower crowns. 

    Outside the barn, a woman with tiny bottles of face painting had line of kids in front of her. 

    After a few minutes, the kids were painted as ‘Catrinas’, a fancy skull decorated with flowers and color lines.  

People could leave photos of their lost loved ones at the Ofrenda at Island Hill Farm in Charlottetown, on the Day of the Dead event, as a symbol of honoring their lives. The table was decorated with marigold flowers and candles. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO 

    For Darren Machado, one of the organizers and part of Los Nopales, the event was successful since it gathered people from all communities.  

    “No one has done this event before. It got the community together,” said Machado. 

    He is from India but had always wanted to have a Mexican food business, so he joined Montero. 

    They got help from the owner of Island Hill Farm, Flory Sanderson, to get the place ready and organize everything. 

    “It was overwhelming … But it brought us so much closer together,” said Machado. “The main thing was to understand what the event was. Once we understood that, we were able to give that experience.” 

    During the event, a Mexican man approached to Montero and started crying. 

    “This person came to me and said: ‘Thanks for sharing this special holiday to other cultures and giving us the opportunity to having this feel like home,’” shared Montero. 

    Other Mexicans like Paula Garcia attended the event. 

    “Although I am far from my country, celebrating the Day of the Dead fills me with nostalgia. It helps me to keep the connection with my culture while remembering my loving ones,” she said. 

Paula Garcia, from Mexico, attended to the first Day of the Dead event at Island Hill Farm. For her, this tradition could help people deal with loss in a different way. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

    For her, this tradition could help people deal with loss in a different way. 

    “This can show people how to approach death with a perspective that celebrates life.     These traditions show that the memory of our loved ones can be a source of joy and connection.” 

    Traditional songs like La Llorona were sang live during the event, and some students from Holland College School of Performing Arts (SOPA), played songs from popular Mexican singers like Natalia Lafourcade.  

    Reade Gauvin, from New Brunswick, and graduate from SOPA, went to the event without knowing anything about Day of the dead. 

    “It’s impressive, because most people are afraid of death. And at first, I was shocked but now I’m here I think is beautiful. … Everyone can learn something from this,” said Gauvin. 

    She brought a picture of her brother to put at the altar. 

Some students from the School of Performing Arts of Holland College sang traditional songs during the event on Nov. 4 at the first Day of the Dead celebration on Island Hill Farm outside Charlottetown, P.E.I. VAL MANDUJANO PHOTO

Ready for the next one

    Back at the event, people were smiling despite waiting in a huge line to get their food. 

    The music lasted till the end. 

    Before 10 p.m. Montero thanked everyone for coming, hoping to see them at next year’s celebration. 

    For Machado, it was important to share the festivity with everyone and he is glad more people than expected showed up. 

    “I think it is important to educate and share this culture with other people and communities,” he said. 

    Montero hoped everyone got to spend time with their loved ones and remembering them while getting to know new costumes. 

    “We believe more in the death world. We believe we go somewhere after life. I think that is the main difference with other celebrations.”