Story by: Lola Cortez

Alabama Multicultural Organization, also known as AMOR, hosted a free Dia de los Muertos event in Cahaba Brewing Company, in Birmingham Alabama.

The event is a week-long celebration from October 28thto November 2nd, where dance performers, music, and art vendors showcase their art to celebrate the lives of their deceased. “We remember our loved ones,” says Robert Hernandez, the President of AMOR, “friends, family members to celebrities we might admire.”

Over a hundred photos were submitted to AMOR, to be printed out, framed and displayed in altars, AMOR hopes inspired community members to learn more of Dia de los Muertos.

Although the theme of the celebration is death, Dia de los Muertos is a joyful celebration,

were traditionally the gates of Heaven open and for a brief time, family members welcome back their love ones with food, drinks, or items they enjoyed while alive.

It is also a time to remember little ones who died before or after birth. AMOR, payed their respects and set up an altar for Cupcake, whose death deeply impacted the community. The secretary of AMOR, Stephen Tsimeides, says they decided to setup an altar to show, “the community supports her, that we are thinking of her and her family.”

Art vendor, Macy Dofash, who has attended the event for the past two years, believes it’s also important to include art in the celebration, “everyone likes to celebrate in different ways some people like to celebrate in a more musical aspects, and then some people like to see other people’s art and see how they represent Day of the Death.”

People also remember their love ones through dancing rituals. Mario Lopez, a dance performer, believes dancing is an important in celebrating the lives of their love ones, “though dancing we represent our prayers. Because that is what dancing is. It is a prayer in movement.” Lopez added, that because their ancestors didn’t have much knowledge of God, every morning they would welcome the sun with dance rituals, “giving thanks for a new day of live.”

If you would like to learn more of Dia de los Muertos or other multicultural events hosted by AMOR, you can check out their website or look them up in Facebook or Instagram.