ASU Museum celebrates Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Nov. 1

Oct. 21, 2009-- The ASU Museum will hold its third annual celebration of Día de los Muertos on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 3–5 p.m.  The ASU Museum is located at 110 Cooley Drive, in the west wing of the Dean B. Ellis Library.

Free and open to the public and university communities, this family event includes hands-on children’s crafts, refreshments, and surprises. An ancient tradition originating with the Aztec and Maya, Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, melded with Christianity in Mexico and led to a rich cultural celebration now practiced in many countries. Food, beverages, flowers, and a time to remember the dead are common to the celebration of Día de los Muertos in all countries, and variations in dance and food favorites make each culture’s celebration unique. A highlight of the festivities will be trick-or-treating through the museum's Old Town Arkansas--a walk-through exhibit of a turn-of-the-last-century town-- offering a combination of the traditions associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead and American Halloween customs.

This year, a special children’s art presentation depicts Arkansas history, including the arrival in Arkansas of the first Europeans, the Spanish, in 1541.This history is suitable for children and will be presented in both Spanish and English. The celebration of Día de los Muertos is one of three free public programs in the ASU Museum’s Cultural Diversity Series.

Children are sure to have fun at the observation of Día de los Muertos. The ASU Museum has marked its Día de los Muertos celebration as a special Kids’ Quest event. Children aged 5–12 can join this free club and receive a newsletter, T-shirt, and other free goodies from the Arkansas Discovery Network of museums. Register for this free club during the Día de los Muertos celebration, or by visiting http://arkansasdiscoverynetwork.com/kids-quest/join.html.

Join the ASU Museum staff and people from many backgrounds for an afternoon of fun and festivities. Experience Día de los Muertos, one of the oldest, most intriguing, and richly diverse customs celebrated by many Spanish-speaking people who now call Northeast Arkansas home. Parking is plentiful, Spanish translators will be available, and all are welcome.

For more information, contact Lenore Shoults at (870) 972-2074, or by e-mail at lshoults@astate.edu. For additional information about the ASU Museum, call (870)972-2074, or visit the ASU Museum online at http://www2.astate.edu/a/museum/index.dot.

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