Photo: Courtesy of Sunnyside Shines
Nov. 1, 2021 Staff Report
Three Queens organizations will be hosting a series of events Monday, Nov. 1 to celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Sunnyside Shines, Friends of Diversity Plaza, and the Queens Economic Development Corporation are producing a simultaneous celebration in Bliss-46th Street in Sunnyside, Diversity Plaza (74th Street) in Jackson Heights, and Corona Plaza (103rd St.), respectively, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Karla Pérez, a local curator, community organizer, and co-founder of Manhatitlan Mexican Dance, is the lead organizer of the event, which is an expansion of an event she spearheaded in 2020 in partnership with the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District.
Pérez notes that the observance is part of a larger vision she has had since before the COVID-19 crisis.
“Despite the size of the Mexican community in Queens, our Día de los Muertos observations tend to be private; it’s very different than in Mexico City, where the citywide celebration is very much integrated into the City’s public spaces. It is gratifying to see that last year’s modest celebration in Sunnyside is blossoming into a cooperative, multi-neighborhood affair.”
Sunnyside Shines’ Executive Director Jaime-Faye Bean notes, “For some, this will be an opportunity to observe a beloved and familiar tradition, and for others it will be a way to learn more about the diverse traditions that find their way here to Queens. But it’s also an important way for us to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of the Mexican community to our borough.”
All are welcome to attend the festivities and especially encouraged to participate in memorializing loved ones by bringing items to place on the communal ofrenda.
For schedule of events, see below.
Featured Events
14 Comments
We have that in Philippines too. It’s called Kalag-kalag it’s basically like that but less…dances and stuff
We had a Dia De Los Muertos themed festival back in college and it was so festive and so much fun. Looking forward to celebrating with my Chihuahua in Sunnyside.
Please support minority owned business.
Such a great way of celebrating and remember loved ones that have passed away! We don’t do anything like this in Nebraska where I’m from.
I love being a Mexican♡ I love Dia de Muertos♡ Mexican Pride!
This is such a beautiful holiday. Years ago, when I had to write a lesson about a Mexican holiday in school, I immediately picked Dia de los Muertos because it has such a beautiful meaning to it, and I’ve always loved learning about it.
In Mexico we have been celebrating the dayS of the dead for 2000 years, Catholicism was brought to Mexico by the Europeans slaughters.
In the Philippines we also celebrate Dia de los muertos but we usually call it All souls day, we always visit the cemeteries, pay respects. Thank you to the Hispanics to bringing your traditions to Sunnyside, although the only one thing I remember not doing at the cemetery is eating ?
I love my culture and my people….VIVA MEXICO!!!
This holiday makes me wish I lived back in Mexico City: how its awesome that I can look out of my apartment window and see these celebrations in Sunnyside now :’)
The tradition has being celebrated since the Teotihuacan era, which is 1,500 years before the Europeans Genocide of indigenous peoples. There is evidence of it in the caves around the Teotihuacan Pyramids Arquelogical Site
You do know that the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice, right?
My boyfriend is Mexican and I came to know amazing things about Mexico. You guys have amazing culture and people. Long live Mexico.
That’s nice that there will be a celebration under the 46th street station. This way the homeless people living there can participate. They have rights too.