DCHS learns about Día de los Muertos | Archives

Students were able to practice their Spanish by interpreting the presentation by Spanish-speaking Gonzalez who spoke about the historic traditions and led a workshop on the tradition of Catrina dolls. Gonzalez bridged the understanding of Mexican motifs that students may have seen often but never fully recognized their meaning and cultural value.

As the end of Hispanic Heritage Month neared, it was the perfect time to receive the visit from Gonzalez.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated to honor loved ones who have passed away, and the Catrina dolls memorialize ancestors.

Students learned about the technical aspects of Catrina sculptures and about the symbolism used in the art form.

Spanish teacher Celine MaharajGopie said, “Students had the opportunity to see art in real life with real Spanish speaking translations; This combination of art, language, history, and passion is amazing!”

Art teacher Tia Henson shared, “This was a great experience for the students to meet a working artist and learn about another culture.”

It’s important to welcome artists from other countries to reflect more cultural representation, and to hear about a Mexican holiday from an artist who is really from Mexico.

At one point a student conversed with Gonzalez about his own Mexican celebrations, and you could see both of their faces light up as they reminisced together.

Through funding from Georgia Council for the Arts, GreyStone Power Foundation, and Douglas…