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Mexican and Latin American cultures celebrate: The Day of the Dead

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

This day is el Dia de los Muertos - in English, the Day of the Dead - which is mainly observed in Latin American cultures.

NOEL KING, HOST:

It's a chance to celebrate the lives of people that we've lost, and one way that's done is by decorating an altar with an image of the person, along with things and food and drink that remind us of their life. It's called an ofrenda, or offering.

INSKEEP: In the spirit of el Dia de los Muertos, the Los Angeles Times web team built its own sort of altar, which allows readers to upload digital ofrendas along with a couple of lines of remembrance.

KING: Fidel Martinez is an editor on that team, and he says that this idea, which has taken off, grew from a conversation among Latino staffers at the Times. For him, this day is about his grandpa.

FIDEL MARTINEZ: It wasn't until my grandfather passed away a few years ago - I was wholly unprepared to deal with the grief and that loss. And so for me, it's what got me into the celebration.

INSKEEP: This year, he's decorated his home altar with his grandfather's photo, some traditional marigolds and a shot of mezcal. Cheers.

KING: Cheers. He also added a tiny wooden figure of a bull because his grandpa's dream was to be a bullfighter. He posted on the LA Times page as well.

MARTINEZ: So this is the ofrenda that I wrote for Luis Isabel Martinez, my grandfather on my dad's side. And here's what I wrote. They say he was a meek man, alguien bien calladito, but I always knew it took great courage to leave everything he'd known just to plant the American seeds that have now bore three generations. Te extrano mucho abuelito.

INSKEEP: Fidel's grandfather was a big fan of bolero music, so, Luis Isabel Martinez, this is for you.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MI CAFETAL")

LOS PANCHOS: (Singing in Spanish). Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.