Tradition states that on November 2, Día de los Muertos, your dead relatives come back from the Spirit World to share food, drink, and spend time with family members.

Although this might sound weird to some, many Mexicans do believe it, and celebrate the holiday, which has its origin in pagan Pre-Columbian beliefs. The celebration has incorporated some elements of Mexican Roman Catholicism, which commemorates All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.

But do people really believe that dead relatives come back to eat all that food and drink on the altars Mexican families set up in their honor? Many people surveyed on the street, said that they celebrate Día de los Muertos as a way to remember their beloved dead relatives, not really believing that their spirits come back to be with them on that day.

“It’s just a special day to celebrate their legacy and to honor their memories,” said Lupita Duarte, a Chula Vista resident who celebrates Día de los Muertos every year. “I set up an altar with my grandparents favorite foods and drinks, and I put their pictures so that my children can learn more about them. Of course their spirits don’t come back, but keeping their memory alive keeps them alive, symbolically at least.”

Like Duarte, there are others who follow the tradition to honor their dead.

Antonio Velasquez, another Chula Vista resident, said that he, as a Christian, beliefs that when people die, they either go to Heaven or Hell. But once dead, they can’t come back to Earth as ghosts.

“I celebrate Día de los Muertos only to commemorate my relatives’ lives,” he said. “It’s very different than celebrating Halloween, where they celebrate death and ghosts, and demons, and stuff like that.”

In San Diego, from San Ysidro to Oceanside, there are many events that celebrate Día de los Muertos.

Students at Clairemont High School set up altars to incorporate the tradition into the Spanish classes curriculum. Students learn about Mexican culture while they practice the language.

One of the major celebrations takes place in Old Town.

Colorful altars and other traditional celebrations of Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s most revered and festive holidays, return to Old Town San Diego November 1 and 2. This community-wide commemoration, which honors ancestors and other deceased loved ones with special menus, music, dancing and craft activities, is free and designed for all ages.

“We’d like everyone to come to Old Town November 1 and 2 and feel a zest for life along with gratitude to those who came before us,” said Alana Coons, Save Our Heritage Foundation’s education & communications director, who created Old Town’s Day of the Dead festivities. “This is meant to be a celebration of cultures and history in San Diego’s most historic neighborhood.”

Other Día de los Muertos celebrations in San Diego include the following events:

Sugar skull workshops at Back from Tomboctou, 3564 Adams Ave., San Diego. Prices vary depending on the workshop. Weekends through Oct. 28. www.backfromtomboctou.com.

The Centro Cultural de la Raza will have several events from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1, including exhibitions, and concerts. You can find the complete program of events at www.centroculturaldelaraza.org.

The Roots Factory in Barrio Logan will host a Día de los Muertos concert with Los Hollywood and The Bloodflowers on Oct. 27. The place is located at 1878 Main St. More information at www.therootsfactory.com.

The Sherman Heights Community Center will have its 18th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2. There will be altar tours, food vendors, music, workshops, and a lot of fun. The center is located at 2258 Island Ave. More information at www.shermanheights.com.

The San Luis Rey Mission will celebrate Día de los Muertos on Oct. 28 with a free festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mission is located at 4050 Mission Ave., in Oceanside. More information at www.mslrdiadelosmuertos.com.
The Front, a cultural center in San Ysidro, will have a festival called Que Vivan los Muertos! on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Information at (619) 428-1115.

La Vista Memorial Park will have a huge celebration on Nov. 2. The cemetery is located at 3191 Orange St., in National City. It will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Information at (619) 475-7770 and www.lavistamemorialpark.com.

The Bonita-Sunnydale County Library branch will host its Day of the Day for Everyone Festival on Nov. 3 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be sugar skulls, and a danza Azteca troupe, Calpulli Mexihca. The branch is located at 4375 Bonita Rd.

Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead at the Center for the Arts, Escondido
Free Community Event – Thursday, November 1, 2012, 6pm – 9pm in the Sculpture Court, Education Studios.

Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead is a time to gather family and friends to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. First presented in 1995, this free community celebration is an annual tradition at the Center for the Arts. On the evening of November 1, you are invited to participate in the event by creating your own memorial in remembrance of loved ones while enjoying live music, entertainment, crafts and traditional Mexican refreshments.

Location: Califronia Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Boulevard.

Escondido Public Library presents Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Celebration

The Escondido Public Library presents a Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead celebration on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 3:30 PM in the Children’s Room. Learn about the history, the stories, and the crafts of Mexico in honoring our loved ones who have passed.

Children ages 4-12 years of age will create and decorate sugar skulls and follow the Mexican traditions of placing flowers, mementos and pan dulce on an altar. Please bring photos or mementos of your loved ones to share in celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

This event is free and open to the public. Come early, as supplies and seating are limited. The Escondido Public Library is located at 239 South Kalmia Street in downtown Escondido.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Rancho Guajome Adobe

Second Annual Family Festival at Historic Rancho in Vista

Día de los Muertos means Day of the Dead and is a 3,000 year old Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed away with small altars and gifts of their favorite foods, beverages, flowers and more.

The colorful tradition is a festive one and is widely celebrated in Mexico as a holiday. Now County Parks and Recreation is offering its second annual Día de Los Muertos family festival Saturday, October 27 on the grounds of Rancho Guajome Adobe, a National Historic Landmark in Vista.

Visitors can watch a Ballet Folklorico dance troupe; an equestrian drill team; enjoy Banda Norteña music and take self-guided tours of the 22-room adobe ranch house complete with remembrance displays.

Children can get their faces painted and make crafts such as ‘ghosts’ and tissue paper flowers. Carriage rides will be available for a small fee.

The event takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rancho Guajome Adobe located at 2210 North Santa Fe Ave. in Vista, 92083. Admission is $4 for anyone 13 years and older, $2 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children under the age of three.

Parking is free and there will be food available and arts and crafts vendors.

As noted, Day of the Dead is very well alive in San Diego County.