Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego celebrates Dia de los Muertos with a traditional remembrance ceremony, a low-rider car show, alter making, mariachi music, and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to bring photos and small memorabilia to create personal ofrendas (alters) to honor the memory of their loved ones. The event is free and open to the public. Dia de los Muertos is a way to recognize death as a natural part of the human experience. On this day, it is believed that the dead are also part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share in the celebrations with their loved ones. At Greenwood, more than 1,000 guests attend to witness and participate in the time-honored rituals of Dia de los Muertos. The observance dates back more than 2,500 years and is linked to the pre-Hispanic era. Each year, celebrants visit ancestral graves to build private altars and decorate graves with Mexican marigolds and personal memorabilia.