Spanish Program Presents Multicultural Program: Day of the Dead/Celebration of the Living
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2001
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Maria Gonzales, Spanish Program
530-898-5388
Spanish Program Presents Multicultural Program: Day of the Dead/Celebration of the Living
On Thursday, Nov.1, and Friday, Nov. 2, the Spanish Program at California State University, Chico will hold a two-day cultural program celebration, “Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos.” The public is welcome and all activities are free.
An all-day art exhibit will be available both days in Trinity Hall, and the video “La Ofrenda” will be shown all day Thursday in Trinity. Other activities include cultural presentations, an anti-alcohol and drug program, a Mexican film, and a lesson in making a traditional Dia de los Muertos candy.
A Multicultural program of dancing, drama, poetry, and music will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the new BMU auditorium. It will be followed by a reception featuring hot chocolate and pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread).
A traditional Spanish theatrical piece, “Don Juan Tenoria,” will be presented on Friday at both 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Harlen Adams Theatre. The play was written in the 19th century and set in Seville in 1545. The Hispanic Theatre Production class, under the direction of Don Miller and Rony Garrido, is producing the play.
Dia de los Muertos dates back to the pre-Columbian notion of duality, said Susan Green, professor in the history department. “The idea is that you cannot have good without bad, day without night, life without death. This celebration honoring the ancestors is also a celebration of life. It is not morbid; it’s something none of us can escape,” says Green.
Green is in charge of an anti-alcohol and drug presentation as part of the celebration. “We are hoping Dia de los Muertos at CSU, Chico, will become increasingly popular as an alcohol-free alternative to Halloween on campus and in the community,” said Green. Studies have shown that for Chicanos and Latinos, being in touch with culture and heritage is correlated with lower levels of substance use and abuse, she said.
“The idea of celebrating the Day of the Dead on our campus serves many important roles, and we hope everyone will come. Many of the activities are designed for young children, and families with children are welcome at all of the events,” said Green.
DAY OF THE DEAD/DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CULTURAL PROGRAM
November 1
All day art exhibition Trinity Hall 100A (both days)
All day video La ofrenda, Trinity Hall 100B.
10 a.m.- 9 p.m. An exhibition of the altar or ofrenda, honoring the memory of those who perished in the WTC attack. Free Speech Area
3-5 p.m. Making calaveras de dulce (sugarskeletons). Trinity Hall 100. Spanish Club
7-8:30 p.m. Cultural Program: music, dance, poetry, drama, guitar music and comedy, and the Ballet Folklorico El Quinto Sol De Gridley. BMU Auditorium
8:30-9 p.m. Reception following the multicultural program: Chocolate and Pan Dulce.
November 2
1-3 p.m. “Don Juan Tenorio,” Spanish Drama by Jose Zorrilla, directed by Don Miller and Rony Garrido. PAC 144, Harlen Adams Theatre.
3-4 p.m. Evitemos las bebidas embriagantes (anti-alcohol and drug program). Trinity 100. Susan Green
4-6 p.m. Mexican Film: “Macario.” Taylor 207
7-9 p.m. “Don Juan Tenorio,” Spanish drama PAC 144, Harlen Adams Theatre
Sponsored by the Spanish Program in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, M.E.Ch.A., A.S. Revenue Committee, Gamma Zeta Alpha, Lambda Theta Nu, and S.E.L.A.C. Spanish Club. Pan y chocolate donated by Casa Lupe Restaurant. Organized by Professor Mar’a R. Gonz‡lez, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
For more information, contact Maria R. Gonzalez, 530-898-5276.
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