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Every Wednesday at 9:00amAbout the Show
Artspeak Radio
ARTSPEAK RADIO is a live radio program on KKFI that airs every Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Host Maria Vasquez Boyd serves up information about the visual and literary arts community including live interviews with artists, writers, and performers.
Maria welcomes Chato Villalobos, Miquel Morales, Rodolfo Marron, Maria Chaurand and Tim York live in the studio to share their Dia de los Muertos stories, memories, and music.
Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during November 1 & 2. Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day, the indigenous people have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.
They believe that the gates of heaven are opened and the spirits of all deceased children (angelicas) friends and family members are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 1 and November 2, the spirits come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.
Many families create beautiful altars (ofrendas) in their home. They are decorated with candles, buckets of flowers (wild marigolds called cempasuchil & bright red cock’s combs) mounds of fruit, peanuts, plates of mole, stacks of tortillas and big Day-of-the-Dead breads called pan de muerto. The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits. Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, Nov. 1. On Nov. 2, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches.
Special Masses and the cleaning of cemetery tombs are part of the traditional activities in Central and Southern Mexico where the colorful parties take place in the cemeteries and elaborate ofrenda altars are built in the homes to honor specific family members who have passed on.
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