By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
October 22. 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Kansas City Museum wants to help you remember those who have passed.

From 1 – 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, the museum will celebrate Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, as part of its monthly family fun day at the Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd. The event is free and open to the public.

The holiday, observed throughout Mexico and around the United States, focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration typically takes places between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2. Some traditions connected with the celebration include building altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls and visiting cemeteries and gravesides.

Anna Marie Tutera, executive director of the museum, said the afternoon will feature arts and crafts, storytellers and more. She added Jenny Mendez, director of cultural arts at Mattie Rhodes, will be on hand to discuss the history of the day with families while making sugar skulls and sampling traditional Día de los Muertos bread.

“Jenny will talk about what the day means and helping everyone understand it’s a day of memory,” Tutera said. “It’s very much a part of the Hispanic culture and Mattie Rhodes is the perfect partner for us because they’ve been celebrating the day in Kansas City for decades.”

Tutera is also asking anyone who decides to attend the event to bring a copy of a photo of a loved one who has passed for the altar that will be constructed. Tutera added that if someone doesn’t want to bring a picture, then other typical offerings for the altar include food, candles and sugar skulls.

“The decorations represent that person while they were alive,” Tutera said. “It’s a tribute to those who have passed.”

Although traditionally the sugar skulls can be eaten, Tutera said the skulls the museum is making will not be edible. Children will have the opportunity to decorate the skulls with sequins, glitter and possibly paint, as well. There will be 75 pre-made skulls available for those who attend.

Honor those who have passed with an event at the Kansas City Museum