Celebrating the blended cultures that bind us here near the Border has long been an aspiration of many Patagonians. This year the folks who manage the Patagonia Community Garden found a way to bring us all closer together: they made space in the garden to commemorate El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), allowing community members to collectively remember loved ones, honor tradition, and share food and memories.
Around 35 locals came to the Garden on Sunday, November 2 for the official event. Several days earlier seven ladies had gathered there to construct an ofrenda (altar) in the garden’s gazebo. It was a labor of love. The colors and patterns were dramatic. Traditionally, ofrendas include items that are symbolic of the elements of water, wind, fire, and earth, and the creators of the Patagonia ofrenda stayed true to tradition. The display included bowls of water to call in thirsty souls. Candles and lights representing fire glowed on and around the structure to help guide the way for the spirits. Papel picado, tissue paper cut-outs that blow in the breeze, hung over the display to signify wind. And Pan de muerto (bread of the dead), representing earth, was placed on the altar along with other food favorites such as a frosted cinnamon roll. No ofrenda would be complete without the traditional marigolds, known as cempasúchil, which represent the sun and are said to guide the spirits of deceased to the living world with their vibrant colors and pungent scent. Some say they also symbolize the fragility of life.
On Sunday, photographs of departed loved ones—mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, neighbors, spouses—were placed on the ofrenda by those present. As people moved through the gazebo, individuals who had brought the photos often explained who was being remembered.
“That is my mother. Look at her smile.”
“These are my two sons who died within a year of each other.”
“This was my father, a veteran of the Korean War.”
“Here is my cousin. He died just outside town. He was a Viet Nam vet.”
“Oh, I remember her in town.”
“The sisters were born and raised in the San Rafael Valley right where the wall is being built now.”
“This man lived just down the alley from here.”
“She was 92 when she passed.”
Even pets were represented. A lady explained that she had lost her home and cat in the massive California fires a few years back. She had a picture of a cat and dog to memorialize all the animals, domestic and wild, that were lost in the fire. “People hunted for pets for a long time afterward,” she said. “It was heartbreaking. I want that to be remembered.”
Despite the sense of loss present with death, El Dia de los Muertos is a celebration, and, indeed, the fall feeling in the garden carried those overtones as attendees shared their food, much of which was Mexican-themed, along with their stories.
Patagonia Community Garden president Mary Sky Schoolcraft was pleased with the event.
“We will do this again next year,” she said, “and we hope even more people get involved. It is a way to honor community and cultures.”