Community members celebrated Day of the Dead on West Pierce Street in the Silver City neighborhood on Thursday, Oct. 30. They were participants in the “Noche de Altares,” or night of altars, hosted by the Urban Ecology Center, Escuela Verde and Newline Cafe.

Families enjoyed music and dances by several local performers, visited food vendors, observed a classic car show and other activities. The free event brought together more than 100 people.  

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Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Families come together those days to celebrate and honor their deceased loved ones, believing their spirits return to visit. The building of altars, or ofrendas, to welcome the spirits usually include photographs of the deceased, candles, marigolds and their favorite foods and drinks. 

The holiday is a joyful celebration of life, not a somber occasion. Families remember loved ones with happiness, telling stories and sharing memories rather than just mourning their loss.

People look at altars, or ofrendas, for Day of the Dead during Noche de Altares.
Two women look at altars. The Day of the Dead altar typically consists of photographs of loved ones who have passed on, candles, marigolds and their favorite foods and drinks.
Candles and photographs sit on an altar for Day of the Dead.
Yesi Perez lights copal, an aromatic tree resin, at an altar during Noche de Altares. Copal is used as an incense to spiritually cleanse an area.
A flower crown displayed for sale at Artesania Minga’s booth. Flower crowns are a part of Mexican culture and are typically worn by women during the Dead of the Dead celebration.
Skull wall hangings for sale sit on a table at Novedades Maria’s booth. In the tradition of Day of the Dead, skulls, or calaveras, symbolize death as a natural part of life, celebrating the connection between the living and the dead rather than mourning it. 
Marigolds wrapped around a tent pole during Noche de Altares. Marigolds, known as “the flower of the dead,” are used for Day of the Dead celebrations because their strong scent and vibrant colors are believed to guide spirits of the deceased back to the world of the living to visit their altars and families. The use of marigolds in remembrance ceremonies dates back to indigenous Aztecs, who considered the flowers sacred.
A couple dips their birria tacos into the birria broth.
Vapsi Joya makes an order of cheese fries at Las Tapatias during Noche de Altares.
 A classic low-rider car is parked on West Pierce Street during Noche de Altares.
Moises Marquez, 13, paints a sugar skull at the Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley Branch, 3700 W. Pierce St.
A custom screen-printed shirt sits on a table at Escuela Verde.
Edisson Orozco and his son, Anthony, roast marshmallows for making s’mores.
A performer with Grupo De Danza Tonantzin performs a traditional Aztec dance for the Day of the Dead.
A performer with Grupo De Danza Tonantzin wears a traditional Aztec headdress during a dance for the Day of the Dead.
A performer with Grupo De Danza Tonantzin wears a traditional Aztec headdress.
Grupo De Danza Tonantzin performs a traditional Aztec dance.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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Jonathan Aguilar is a photojournalist as well as a Report for America corps member and Catchlight Local fellow. Before coming to Milwaukee, he spent two years as a photographer at one of America’s oldest daily newspapers, The Blade, in Toledo, Ohio. Aguilar grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from DePaul University and his master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism.