Dia de los Muertos Celebrated at TAMIU by Monterrey Group

A rich and colorful Mexican tradition, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) mocks death and lavishly honors those who have passed onto the afterlife with altars, food offerings and things the deceased enjoyed in this life, such as a cigarette.

This tradition, in which skeletons made out of sugar are eaten and elaborate decorations displayed at cemeteries and individual homes honor the dead, will come alive at Texas A&M International University Friday with the presentation of “La Muerte Ciriquiciaca” (The Zany Death) from 5 - 6:15 p.m. in the Student Center Theater (SC 236).

The event is free and open to the public.

Tayer, a Monterrey, México, group that dedicates itself to rescuing traditional folk songs of México as well as recording them and lecturing about them, will perform Mexican regional songs, narrations and poems about death or calaveras (skeletons).

Dr. Stanley Green, TAMIU history professor, said the presentation is organized by his History
3301 class.

“The reason that I was impressed with Tayer is that they have been doing serious work rescuing old songs and interpreting them,” Dr. Green said, “They are saving history, along with entertaining people.”

Green explained that the Day of the Dead has been observed in Europe since the Middle Ages.
“In México, it has a unique focus in that it has become a folk festival,” he said.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated every year at the same time as Halloween and the Christian holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, Nov. 1 and 2.

Among songs that Tayer will perform will be “Te Vas Ángel Mío,” “La Bruja,” “La Tisica,” “Coche Coche,” “Delgadina,” “Cerró sus Ojitos Cleto,” and “Don Chon El Enterrador.”

Song themes range in topic from a 1918 pandemic that caused millions of deaths, ghost apparitions, a description of a Mexican funeral and a mature way to see death.

For more information, please call the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268. University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional information is available on the University’s Web site at tamiu.edu and @txamiu on Facebook and Twitter.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu