ATHENS, Ala. — If you didn't know it... today and tomorrow are called the day of the dead or Dia de los Muertos in Mexico. In honor, several members of the local Hispanic community in Athens came together to create a beautiful ofrenda which honors deceased loved ones. Community members are also encouraged to bring copies of loved ones photos to High Cotton Arts for the honorary celebration.
High Cotton Arts store manager Sonya Gordon Mathes believes this can be apart of the healing process for individuals to deal with grief in a productive way. "You know, there's a lot of grief. It's different for everybody, but you know, it's, it's something that's available. And if they would like to participate in it, we'd be, we'd be glad to have their photograph on the ofrenda. You know, in memory of their loved one," said Mathes.
There is also a station setup for individuals to write a letter to a deceased loved one. "We have a mailbox. You can put the letter in there, and then after this event, we'll take the letters out and burn them so that they, you know, go up to heaven. In the Hispanic culture and Mexican culture, a lot of times they would just go out to the cemetery and have, you know, have their I guess communal time out there and you know, have picnics and bring things that their loved one enjoyed, you know, eating and, and, and that's why you'll see food we don't have it out right now, but we [usually] have breads and stuff that go on the altar," she continued.
Tomorrow is the last day to make your way to see the ofrenda at High Cotton Arts from 1p -7p. All are encouraged to attend and it is also free to the public.