Día de los Muertos 2023: Celebrate the Day of the Dead at these North Jersey events
Remembering loved ones who died can take many forms. For those raised in Mexican culture, it is a traditional celebration known as the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos or el Día de los Muertos), which occurs on Nov. 1 and 2 but also will be celebrated on other days this week.
During the holiday, which coincides with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, people pay tribute to deceased friends and family members with celebrations of their lives. They include placing flowers and gifts at their gravesites and creating home altars known as ofrendas with favorite foods and beverages of the deceased.
Yet Día de los Muertos is also a time to honor the living, with candies and desserts and irreverent poems known as calaveras literarias that serve as mock epitaphs for the living and the dead.
In North Jersey, various events will mark this holiday. All are free unless otherwise noted:
Clifton
Día de los Muertos Paint Night is coming to Bitol Cantina, at 1061 Bloomfield Ave., on Nov. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants can create artwork using imagery associated with the celebration. The cost of the event is $65 plus tax and gratuity and includes unlimited cocktails and small bites for two hours, along with a pottery Day of the Dead mug.
Montclair
Latinos of Montclair and the Montclair Art Museum host the Día de los Muertos "Para La Cultura" Community Altar + Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the museum, which is at 3 S. Mountain Ave. The event will feature live music performances, children’s art activities, a community altar guided tour, talks, food trucks and a Latino marketplace. A $10 family/$5 individual donation is welcome but not required.
The Solano Exp store in Montclair will host a Day of the Dead celebration on Friday at 4:30 p.m., inside the lobby of The Clairidge movie theater, at 484 Bloomfield Ave. Participants will celebrate with music and a colorful ofrenda created for the occasion and get a unique piece of art made by talented artisans and designers from Mexico.
East Rutherford
The East Rutherford Library will hold a Day of the Dead Light-up Cups Craft event in the library's meeting room on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. The event is for ages 7 and up. Registration is required. The library is at 143 Boiling Springs Ave.
A Day of the Dead celebration will be held at American Dream on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Children can take part in Día de los Muertos story time and a pi?ata contest. Visitors also can enjoy live mariachi bands and dancers and participate in sugar skull face painting. The mall is at 1 American Dream Way.
Mountain Lakes
Those looking to celebrate Día de los Muertos can do so at an event where participants can decorate a 3D-printed sugar skull. It will take place at the Mountain Lakes Public Library, at 9 Elm Road, on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Newark
Harriet Tubman Square in Newark will be the site of the Day of the Dead Night Market on Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. The square is at 501-551 Broad St. The market is a joint effort of Audible, the city of Newark, the Newark City Parks Foundation, Newark Arts & Education District and 33 Washington.
Shoppers will have the opportunity to buy handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing and artwork inspired by the Day of the Dead and Mexican cuisine from food vendors. There will also be free activities including face painting, a photo booth, screen printing and sugar skull decorating. The rain date is Friday.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration, and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Celebrate Día de los Muertos in NJ at these local events