READY FOR 8TH ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Mario Saucedo laughs when it’s suggested Vallejo’s version of “Día de los Muertos” should be re-named “Día de los Marios.”
Sure, the executive director of the Solano AIDS Coalition works tirelessly to pull off the annual downtown event. But he remains humble, knowing it’s not only important to maintain the traditions of his culture, but to credit all the participants.
Next weekend that would be the 17 Catrinas — the women in painted skull faces, ornate costumes and eyepopping headpieces — with a big bow and curtsy to make-up artist and Catrina Sarah Moore.
“The first time I asked her to do makeup, we clicked like that,” Saucedo said.
“I tell her what I want and she did exactly that. She’s not only an amazing makeup artist, but an amazing human being and I love her. She’s like my sister.”
The admiration, apparently, is mutual.
“I love Mario. He’s become my brother,” Moore said. “He’s always the same — always loving. He’s like my counselor, like my brother. He’s always there for me and helps me out with good advice.”
Ah, but when it comes to “Día de los Muertos,” “he’s very serious about his work and helping people,” Moore said. “That’s what he gets serious about.”
The two were relaxed late-morning Saturday, preparing dresses with last-week additions in the backyard of Saucedo’s home he shares with Calvin DeVille.
For Saucedo, each Day of the Dead is different, depending on who is on his own mind.
Early this year, his 52-year-old brother, Francisco, died from COVID-19.
“People are passing away a lot,” Saucedo said. “And we are able to (acknowledge) them on Día de los Muer
tos, a day that is very important and very dear to my heart because it is my culture. “
Saucedo said he is “pleased and happy” that his work has helped educate the community — especially the non-Latinos — about Día de los Muertos.
“In the years of putting this together a lot of people who are not Mexican, not Latino, now know about Día de los Muertos,” said Saucedo. “They embrace it and it's so amazing.”
Saucedo said he's gotten some flack for having non-Latina Catrinas, but he said it emphasizes the diversity of Vallejo.
“I've seen an African American Catrina that is crying because she lost someone and this is a way she found she could celebrate that life,” Saucedo said. “There's a lot of love in Día de los Muertos.”
Moore was acutely
aware of “Día de los Muertos” before joining Saucedo as the big event's makeup artist. Her children's father is Mexican “and I lived with their family 11 years, so it's something I knew about. I fell in love with the culture and everything that goes along with it.”
Each dress Moore helps re-purpose includes a small butterfly, a tribute to her late grandmother, as the make-up artist sees the transformations of each Catrina.
“I learn personal things about each of these women and I try to help and encourage them in life,” Moore said. “I'm not only doing makeup and bringing out their beauty, this is therapy. I learn about them, they learn about me and we become a family.”
The official “Catrina coordinator” since last year, Moore said her relationship with the Catrinas “is like a sisterhood. I plan to keep us together throughout the year, so we'll do fun things once this (Día de los Muertos) is over.”
The event has also helped Moore with her own personal growth, she said. There was a time she couldn't see herself in a dress before her first time as a Catrina in 2018.
“Mario said ‘just do it' and it was great. You do feel beautiful,” Moore said.
“This is therapeutic for a lot of women in my program and it really is a program,” added Saucedo, a certified counselor.
When all the Catrinas are in full costume and makeup and walk down Georgia Street together, “I want to cry,” Saucedo said.
“It means my work as a community person is being fulfilled. I'm seeing them all happy, smiling, the center of attention. They are so joyful. It's a payback for all my work in the community.”
Saucedo is elated that COVID restrictions have been relaxed compared to last year.
“With masks and everything, it was very difficult but people attended and followed the rules,” he said.
He expects a big turnout this coming Saturday, with Día de los Muertos continuing the following day next Sunday with a screening of “Coco” at the Mira Theatre.
And next year? “A parade with the same route as the (Dec. 4) Mad Hatter,” hoped Saucedo.
“I have people who want to come from all over for a parade and I want Vallejo
to be the center of Día de los Muertos,” he said.
For more information about Vallejo's Día de los Muertos, visit: solanoaidscoalition.org/blog/diade-los-muertos/