Portland: Community Honors Deceased With Altars and Dance

Sunday marked the first day of Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday dedicated to honoring deceased loved ones. The Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary and Sunset Hills Park in Portland hosted their fourth annual celebration for the occasion. The event featured traditional music, dancing, and an altar, known as an ofrenda, designed to welcome spirits.

Manuel Ramos, director of El Ballet Folklorico, directed the dancers at the Sunday gathering. He described the holiday as a period when participants feel a connection to those who have passed away. Ramos explained that the altars serve as an invitation for spirits to return to Earth to communicate with the living.

“It is the altars that actually invite them over and especially today,” Ramos said. “Today is November 1, so they believe that the spirits have arrived already and they’re here on Earth communicating with them.” He added that the holiday often evokes memories of his childhood in Mexico, where he immigrated to the United States at age five.

Kjersti Barrios, who works at the mortuary and memorial park, used the event to remember two family members. Her father died in an accident when she was six years old. Her grandmother, who passed away in 2020, is also featured on her ofrenda. Barrios placed specific items on the altar to honor their preferences.

“Grandma loved Paydays, so we put those out for her. And Grandpa loved Mountain Dew, so he gets one of those,” Barrios said. “So just sharing those memories about them.” The practice of building altars is central to the holiday, which is celebrated across Mexico, parts of Central America, and the United States.

Families traditionally construct these altars using pictures of the deceased alongside their favorite foods, drinks, letters, and personal belongings. Barrios said the event provides an opportunity to recall happy shared experiences rather than focusing solely on the sadness of loss. She emphasized the importance of maintaining cultural roots through these rituals.

“I think that’s the most important part, is being able to stay with our roots and with our culture and remembering our loved ones,” Barrios said. The celebration included activities for guests of all ages, reinforcing the community aspect of the tradition.