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The annual event continues to grow in scope and attendance. This
year’s Día de los Muertos celebration included a dozen
altars set up to honor Toledo’s first Latino families at the
Quintero Center, as well as a procession Sat. morning that
included a special Mass at SS Peter and Paul Church. And
a special altar set up at the Erie St. Market was moved back to
the Quintero Center for public viewing.
“I think people are becoming more aware and more understanding
of the significance of Día de los Muertos,” said Ms.
Wagner.
“I think we’re also getting more support and numbers in
attendance coming to our function,” said Joe Balderas,
Quintero’s executive director. “That’s a boost for us in that
people are recognizing this and recognizing what we’re doing.
We’re the only organization [in Toledo] really keeping the
Mexican culture alive for the next generation. We need to do
that.”
The dinner/dance was held to honor Toledo’s first Latino
families. A special altar was constructed in their memory at the
Erie St. Market. Participants were invited to bring special
mementos to add to the altar, which was blessed by Father
Juan Francisco Molina during the event. A mariachi band—Salvador
Torres and El Mariachi Mexico 2000—also played in tribute to
lost loved ones.
Entertainment also included El Corazón de México Ballet
Folklórico, Baile Rico Dancers, and DJ Tony Rios.
Margarita De León was the emcee. Quintero Board President
Dr. Alberto González welcomed those in attendance.
The Quintero Center board strongly believes in continuing to
promote Mexican culture, history, and traditions locally,
because as more young people assimilate into a US-American way
of life, their own heritage becomes increasingly lost.
“That’s an important factor if you look at every generation in
the Latino community. The fourth generation now cannot speak
Spanish and does not know much about their own culture other
than
Quinceañera
because that’s just a big birthday party,” said Balderas. “There
are other things, you know.”
“It is important because they are learning where they came from
and it is something that is important to their families,”
explained Ms. Wagner. “As they see the altars and they see the
items their families have brought, it may make them think of
their own families and what kinds of things are important to
those who have passed in their families.”
In the southwestern part of the United States, Día de los
Muertos has become “a big deal,” according to Balderas.
Entire festivals are built around the celebration. The Mexican
tradition also has become a growing part of the arts community.
“I’m seeing two types of altars now—the traditional altar
dedicated to the family, then you see the artistic altar that’s
created by an artist,” said Balderas. “To him, it’s just another
form of art expression. Instead of just doing a flat,
one-dimensional art drawing, now it’s 3-D and live.”
Building Family Altars
Sabina Elizondo-Serratos
and her family have put together an altar since the Quintero
Center began the tradition 15 years ago. Her maternal family,
the Martínez family, is one of the first families to
settle in the Toledo area. They migrated from the Crystal City,
Texas area and San Luis Potosi, Mexico area.
Through the altar, she remembers several members of her
familia:
maternal grandparents Concepción (Concha) and Eusebio (Sam)
Martínez;
paternal grandparents Consuelo and Marcos Elizondo; cousins
Gloria Ruiz and April Love Martínez, uncles Simon Martínez,
Marcus Elizondo, David Cortez, André Olguin, José Ramirez and
Alvaro Vallejo. She called the altar both “nostalgic and bittersweet.”
“The suggestion to participate actually came from my Uncle Joe [Martínez],
who is an artist, and my Aunt Barbina,” said Ms.
Elizondo-Serratos. “They both have done a tremendous job in
gathering items and memorabilia of the loved ones in our family
who have passed on. I am so grateful for their commitment to
keeping the memories of my grandparents, cousins, uncles and
even some friends alive.”
The family’s altar includes photos of loved ones and some items
that either belonged to them or remind the Elizondo family of
their late relatives. For example, Grandmother Concepción
Martinez loved to sew, so there is a small sewing kit. She also
loved to cook for her entire family so there is molcajete and a
tortilla warmer.
“She would make fresh tortillas daily. As children, my cousins
and I would rush into the kitchen grab a fresh, warm tortilla,
throw butter on it and we were happy for the rest of the day,”
said Ms. Elizondo. “Those are the little things that we take for
granted and now we realize how blessed we were to have had a
grandmother like her.”
Because her grandmother was also a singer and a songwriter, the
family also included a few samples of her music in a binder on
the altar. One of her singing dresses is hung up alongside the
altar. She would wear it when she would perform. Ms.
Elizondo-Serratos even stated she still can hear her singing “Un
Día a la Vez,” which was one of her favorites.
Ms. Elizondo-Serratos admitted her own kids did not participate
in creating the altar this year, but noted they understand the
importance of remembering loved ones, as well as “how important
family is to us every day of our lives.”
“At times they may think I go a little overboard with photos and
videos and collecting things but they get the big picture,” she
said. “Whether or not they take a role in creating an altar or
contributing substantially to the already established altar will
be up to them, but I am pretty comfortable knowing that they do
value this tradition.”
People also were able to come view the altars at the Quintero
Center Sunday afternoon. A dozen were set up, including ones
from Antwerp and Waite high school students, Bowling Green State
University students, along with several family altars. The
public also will be able to see the altars on display Saturday
and Sunday, Nov. 12 and 13, from 2-5 p.m. Admission is $1.
“It really is a tribute to their ancestors,” said Ms. Wagner.
“Two sisters even came together to build one and they had a lot
of fun doing it. It is very meaningful to them.”
“Now that we’ve been doing this for several years, they’re
really curious to see what a real altar looks like, rather than
on the Internet or in a book,” said Balderas.
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