Chaffey College's Fourth Annual Dia de los Muertos Lectura and Ofrenda Building
By Miranda Morgan
On Oct. 23, 2025 from 12-2 p.m., Chaffey College’s Rancho Campus will host its fourth annual Dia de los Muertos Lectura & Ofrenda Building, headed by Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies Patricia Gomez.
Interest in the event is growing, with the addition of four new faculty members demonstrating the strength and solidarity of the latin student body (who make up over 60% of Chaffey’s enrollment).
Gomez joined the Chaffey College faculty in 2022 and hit the ground running. Approaching the fourth annual celebration, she is confident in the event's continuous growth.
Beginning with the hour-long lectura on the day and its significance, the event transitions into ofrenda-building for students, faculty and families. Attendants can expect to hear music, and enjoy cups of champurrado accompanied by pan dulce.
The Ofrenda is currently up for viewing in the CAA building, and will remain until Nov. 21.
Offering events which celebrate Latin heritage, in times of intense attack on latinos, is crucial to reminding students of the community that is here for them on campus.
“People are scared of just existing and living their life or working. We’re not criminals, but we’re being criminalized,” stated Gomez. “It’s important to show that we’re proud of not just our heritage, but proud to continue practicing our cultural traditions.”
Persevering in spite of cultural suppression is not new. In the 1960s, Chicano activists led the resurgence of cultural celebration. The work these activists have done to revive ancestral traditions has led to today’s widespread embrace of celebrations such as Dia de los Muertos.
This begs the question: what are the ancestral origins of Dia de los Muertos?
The origins of the tradition began in ancient Mesoamerica, which consisted of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Over time, the celebrations associated with Dia de los Muertos grew as a mix of pre-colonial spiritual practice and post-colonial religious tradition.
The day itself is seen as an opening between the earth and the spirit world, allowing deceased loved ones to return home. Gomez describes the journey taken by the spirits as a tiring one, as the spirits ascend through seven levels of the underworld.
Living family members place items of offering upon altars meant to honor the departed, these components help make up a traditional "ofrenda". Through the combining of personal items, food and spiritual/religious symbols, the spirits rejoice with their loved ones for a single night.
“One of the rituals for inviting spirits back to the living, back to Earth, is showing mementos of what they were tied to in their living presence,” stated Gomez. “It could be as simple as a necklace, or a photograph. Building an ofrenda should represent what that person loved.”
Each detail, which to an outsider may seem minuscule, is essential for helping the spirits of the underworld reconnect with loved ones Earth-side.
Water is present to cleanse spirits, salt is used to purify and candles to light the journey.
"Papel picado", colorful and symbolically cut pieces of paper, signifies the arrival of spirits as the wind travels through.
Crushed cempasúchil, or Mexican marigolds, emit a powerful scent that guides the spirits home to family.
Religious elements, such as the inclusion of "La Virgencita de Guadalupe" or crosses, began post-colonization, but tend to be quite common in modern ofrendas.
This celebration is reflected differently by every family, with many embracing modern additions. These modernizations not only create a more inclusive environment, but serves as bridge for folks to explain the concept of death to younger kids.
The Director of Student Life, Equity, and Engagement, Albert Rodriguez, details how his family takes on ofrendas:
“My kids have started the practice of putting out what they like and think their relatives would enjoy, we’ll have some CapriSuns and Starbursts out there."
“It’s an opportunity for my kids to really see what my passed family members looked like, and who she was,” stated Rodriguez. “They don’t get many opportunities for that, so it lets our kids know and see them, and know that they’re with us.”
Gomez sustains high hopes for expansion, creating a larger community event with baile folkorico, painting and food is the ultimate goal.
While continuing to celebrate a culture facing such uncertainty, Gomez reaffirms solidarity:
“Sometimes our soul needs that. With all the things we are facing right now in the political climate, sometimes our own souls need to be fed that way.”