Gratitude & Grief Altar: dia de los Muertos 2016

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Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead, is the one day each year the dead come to dance with the living. As the living, it is our role to prepare for this long anticipated day by preparing altars and laying out tokens to greet the dead upon their arrival.Join me in creating one of the public altars for the Dia de los Muertos celebration November 2, 2016 at Garfield Park in San Francisco's Mission District. Volunteers are welcome to help build or tend the altar; I'm happy to collaborate with folks who have personal altars to place.The theme for my altar, which will be located at the North East corner of Harrison and 25th, is "Gratitude & Grief" based on this stunning Francis Weller quote:

“The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give.”

For more information on the San Franciso event visit their website.

In San Francisco, Day of the Dead has been celebrated in the Mission district since the early 70’s with altars in Garfield Park, serving as a community graveyard for the night and through art, music, other live performances and a walking procession. Dia de los Muertos is a traditional Meso-American dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death, grieving and the cycle of life. This community interactive art filled event is open to everyone and all who wish to participate are welcome.