Understanding Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a special day that has existed for thousands of years with religious connotations in Latin America, where it continues to be followed faithfully and is now celebrated in America.

The holiday holds a special place in the hearts of Mexicans, when family and friends gather to pray for and remember loved ones who have died, oftentimes with elaborate homemade altars. It is a more spiritual than solemn day, which begins on the eve of November 1 on All Saints’ Day and is celebrated on November 2.

The special day bears little resemblance to the other holiday it follows, Halloween, since it is not associated with evil spirits or scary situations and has nothing in common with the new entertainment landscape filled with vampires, werewolves and zombies.

Dia de los Muertos is not, as is often said, the Latino Halloween. The day of celebration falls close to Halloween so a link is often made, but for marketers hoping to grasp insights into Dia de los Muertos, there is a delicate balance for the Spanish-language dominant Latino.

U.S. Hispanics enjoy Halloween, but they celebrate both holidays separately and in their own way, from generation to generation. Dia de los Muertos is a respectful yet colorful day filled with happiness and remembrance.

Some marketers have already tapped into the growing market by offering some of the items that are often needed to make an altar complete on Dia de los Muertos: Families set up altars at home brimming with fresh flowers, oftentimes sweet-smelling yellow marigolds, or cempasúchil, as the flowers are known in Mexico; pan de muertos (bread for the dead) is often sold in Hispanic-friendly neighborhoods and is set out as a symbolic gesture for the person being remembered; a cup of water is left out for the person who has passed away to “drink” after a long journey, along with favorite foods; candles are placed nearby to light the way and to provide warmth; and decorative sugar skulls can be bought or made at home.
These rituals are in fact unique and can seem a bit unorthodox to non-Hispanics unaccustomed to discussing death so openly. Dia de los Muertos is often misunderstood because it may seem almost too festive. If it is, that’s because for many Latinos honoring the dead means being happy to have had that person in their life.

A growing number of pint-size ceramic skulls and skeletons found in storefront windows in predominately Hispanic neighborhoods pay tribute to the holiday, but these figurines are often dressed in elegant attire and carry a musical instrument or are placed in jaunty positions. The calaveras (skulls) and skeletons commonly used to mark the day are more figurative, not spooky like the ones used during Halloween. To mark the occasion, skull-bearing T-shirts, cards, calendars and coffee mugs are beginning to be found in traditionally less Hispanic neighborhoods which shows that the holiday has trickled into our “mainstream” culture.

Latin American culture is so vast and so multifaceted that honoring the dead should not come as a surprise. It is a different way of approaching life, even after a loved one has died.

Dia de losMuertos at Mission San Luis Rey has once again concluded a fantastic community event. This year many more attendees dressed the part in their wonderful traditional Dia de losMuertos costumes and makeup. Children came dressed for their practice run for trick or treating that evening.  Day Of Dead 

Oceanside Mission Hoping to Earthquake-proof Historic Church

Without some serious retrofitting, one of California’s most iconic historical landmarks is at risk of crumbling to its foundation if shaken hard by a serious temblor. 

Administrators for the 200-year-old Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia have for years been working on a plan to stabilize the ornate, historic church building in time to meet a state-required 2015 deadline for earthquake retrofitting. But raising the $3.1 million needed for the work has been no easy task during the Great Recession. 

“Sometimes people say, ‘Ah, the church has been here 213 years, why do you need to do this now?’” said Executive Director and Franciscan friar David Gaa. “Well, part of the answer is because it’s mandated by the law, and the other part is in a major earthquake, a major earthquake, it would be dangerous for the people inside. We have a lot of fourth-graders who come here all the time.”

The mission was founded in 1798; construction of the existing church was finished in 1815.

The mission has for years enchanted visitors with its long church walls rich with paintings, a museum depicting the history of the area and the life of friars and the cemetery, where Franciscan brothers are laid to rest near lawns pocked with tombstones crafted in centuries past.

In 2008 the mission received a $640,000 grant from a National Forest Service program called Save America’s Treasures. The work was supposed to be done more quickly, but the state allowed an extension because of the hard economic times.

“If there weren’t problems economically, it would be a different picture,” Gaa said.

The grant funds hinged on landing matching contributions, which the mission has received. To date 75 percent of the needed money has been committed for the church, but the grant and the matching funds come with strings attached: the work must be completed by next October. 

“There’s a good chance that if we don’t start and finish the work next year we’ll lose that” grant, Gaa said. “The question of will they give us an extension … they might. But I don’t want to get down to the wire and find out they’re not.” 

The retrofitting involves removing the church’s large wood and tile roof and inserting rebar into the adobe walls.

The mission, which is run as a nonprofit, hopes to complete its fundraising campaign near the end of the year, then in January consider construction bids. Administrators hope to start the work in February in time to finish by October 2012 and reopen soon after. 

A capital campaign committee has been in charge of raising money for the work, holding fundraisers and collecting contributions from individuals and organizations who have been heavily involved in the mission and the Old Mission San Luis Rey Historical Foundation, Inc. In the final stretch of fundraising, the committee will look to the community to help meet the remaining $775,000 needed for the work.
“It’s really about the people that believe in the mission,” said Jeanne Schmelzer, a fundraising campaign leader for the retrofitting project. 

Gigi Gleason, chairwoman of the committee, is hopeful the campaign will raise enough money.
“We all feel very optimistic that we will not only reach our goal but exceed it,” she said. “The thought … of having to close the doors (of the mission) is to me unthinkable.”

Old Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery is Oceanside cemetery, founded in 1798. The Mission is committed to taking care of the San Diego cemetery as part of this National Historic Landmark. Contact us for San Diego FuneralServices our experienced and caring staff is available to help you. San DiegoRetreats Center at Old Mission San Luis Rey offers a place for solitude, healing, and revitalization with a wide variety of Spiritual Retreats and educational programs.

How To Help Historical Mission San Luis Rey

Over 200 years of history are preserved in Mission San Luis Rey, California's "King of the Missions". Naming Mission San Luis Rey as the charitable beneficiary in planned giving allows members of the Mission Legacy Guild to contribute significant support for the future of the Mission. 

Fund Development's purpose is to increase support for the Mission's operation and programs. This includes creating beneficial partnerships with our local business community, organizations, donors and other stakeholders.

Our goals are:

• Preserving the unique, historical Mission artwork and paintings,
• Revitalizing the beautiful gardens and landscaping,
• Renovating the historic archways,
• Obtaining city water for safety and convenience,
• Seismically retrofit the National Historic Landmark buildings,
• Upgrading and expanding the 4th-grade mission experience.

Old Mission San Luis Rey is an active Mission providing cultural, educational, historical and spiritual programs to the community and visitors from around the world. We must consistently seek funding for these ongoing projects through the support of private foundations, corporations, individuals and fund-raising events. As you can imagine, operating and maintaining a historic site is costly. Old Mission San Luis Rey is a registered National Historic Landmark, yet it does not receive public funding for general operations and is not supported by Catholic Diocesan funds. Renovations to the buildings and property for modern safety standards (seismic retrofitting) and the preservation of the old structures require considerable funding... much more than the revenue that can be generated from our Museum tours or the Retreat Center and Cemetery. The Mission depends on volunteer support and the generosity of private donors, corporate partnerships, major fund-raising events, and grants to continue as a significant historic and cultural landmark.

Mission Legacy Guild

The term "planned giving" refers to charitable gifts that require some planning before they are made. Planned gifts are popular because they can provide valuable tax benefits and/or income for life. Whether a donor uses cash or other assets, such as real estate, artwork, or partnership interests, the benefits of funding a planned gift can make this type of charitable giving very attractive to both the donor and charity. 

Many of our supporters make charitable gifts by naming Mission San Luis Rey as a beneficiary in their will. The federal government encourages these gifts and bequests, by allowing an unlimited tax-deductible charitable donation. Here are five possible ways you can make a Mission Legacy Guild Bequest:

1. Fixed-Dollar Bequest. You designate a specific amount to Mission San Luis Rey. This option is often best in cases of smaller bequests.

2. Leaving a Percentage. Some people choose to leave Mission San Luis Rey a set percentage of the estate.

3. Residual Bequest. Your estate will pay all debts, taxes, expenses, and specific bequests. The remaining amount--the residual--will be transferred to Mission San Luis Rey.

4. Bequest of Property. A donor may choose to leave Mission San Luis Rey a particular piece of real property or tangible personal property, such as jewelry, automobiles, art or other assets. Great care should be taken accurately to describe the intended property and the other interest bequeathed, if it is not the entire ownership interest.

5. Designation as Beneficiary of Your Life Insurance or Retirement

 

Some people choose to create their Mission Legacy gift by designating Mission San Luis Rey as beneficiary of their life insurance or retirement accounts. Through your commitment of support, you reach beyond time and help carry on the spiritual, cultural, historical, and educational presence of Mission San Luis Rey for generations and generations to come. Although a National Historic Landmark, Mission San Luis Rey receives no public funding for general operations. It is entirely dependent upon donations, fundraisers and grants. By joining the Friends of the Mission, your donation allows the Mission to carry on an educational, historical, cultural and spiritual presence within the community. 

Varying levels of member benefits include free admission to Mission San Luis Rey, guest passes to share your experience with friends, tickets to our annual gala and valuable discounts. Benefits are commensurate with the level of membership. Thank you for helping preserve Mission San Luis Rey for future generations.  

Old Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery is Oceanside cemetery, founded in 1798. The Mission is committed to taking care of the San Diegocemetery as part of this National Historic Landmark. Contact us for San Diego FuneralServices our experienced and caring staff is available to help you. San DiegoRetreats Center at Old Mission San Luis Rey offers a place for solitude, healing, and revitalization with a wide variety of Spiritual Retreats and educational programs.