LOVED ONES REMEMBERED AT DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
9th annual event features parade, dance routines and altars for those who passed away
Dia de los Muertos — Day of the Dead — has always been important for Mario Saucedo, This year, however, the ceremony meant even more to the executive director and CEO at Solano AIDS Coalition.
Midway through the 9th annual event in downtown Vallejo, Saucedo embraced sisters Julissa Saucedo Harin and Yolanda Saucedo as they remembered their brother, Francisco Saucedo, who died earlier this year from COVID-19.
The Day of the Dead, long considered one of the most representative traditions of Mexican culture, takes place is usually a two-day celebration. Nov. 1 is dedicated to the soul of children and Nov.2 to adults. In Vallejo, it was celebrated on Nov. 6. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died.
“Today we are celebrating the life of all the loved ones we have lost, including our brothers and sisters,” said a teary-eyed Mario. “This year is especially hard because we are remembering so many that have lost their lives to COVID-19.
Julissa, one of many donning colorful makeup and a dress, said he felt the spirit of Francisco had been with the family all week. She also had a memorial gown.
“He’s (Francisco) very proud of us and he has come to let us know that today and earlier this week,” Julissa Saucedo said. “He has made his presence known in all our homes this week. I remember he always used to like drinking coffee. I had my cup of coffee in the middle of the night the other day and in the morning there was this coffee crop of a perfect heart on the table. I mean, explain that one to me. Tell me he’s not watching over us.”
The day was also an important one for Isabel Reyes and Josefina Pantoja, who set up a booth on Georgia Street with an altar for Eric Reyes and Adrian Pantoja, who both died at the age of 18, three years apart in 2016 and 2013 respectively. The two good friends were each killed by gun violence in Vallejo. Pantoja was shot multiple times
in the driveway of a home in the 100 block of Sawyer Street in 2013, while Reyes was fatally wounded in his car after he and the driver of another vehicle got into a confrontation near the intersection of Springs Road and Heartwood Avenue.
When asked if this was a day of mourning or celebration, Isabel Reyes said it’s “a good day.”
“It’s a way to honor him and remember him,” Isabel Reyes said about Eric. He was a 4.0 student and was a good kid focused on his studies. He wanted to pursue a career in physiology. He was
very interested in the mind. He would tell me, ‘Mom, your mind is not as strong as my mind.’ Okay, yeah, whatever. But today I really feel his energy. It’s great to have people come by and say they knew him, whether it was from high school or somewhere else. But they remember him.”
Josefina said sharing a booth with Isabel had its pros and cons.
“It does help and doesn’t help at the same time,” Josefina said. “But I like that I know someone that is going through the same things that you are. She is someone to talk to that knows exactly what you’re going through.”
The day wasn’t all about mourning. Earlier in the day children as young as 3
performed dance routines with the ballet folklorico group Moon Azteca. Of the performers with the colorful costumes was Jairosahid Cejarrubio, who is 9 but has been performing since he was 3.
“I like being able to dance to the music. It makes me excited and makes me proud,” Cejarubio said. “It takes about three months each year to practice but it isn’t hard anymore. This year I was thinking of my great-grandpa, who recently died. He was a great man and he used to hunt a lot since he was a farmer.”
There was a performance by the trio mariachi el mexicano, as well as other ballet folklorico groups, including “Del Valle.” Local
officials would later give speeches to the attendees.
Yajaira Rubio, the founder and dance instructor of Moon Azteca, said the day is very important to her.
“It’s a great day to remember our loved ones we have lost, but it’s also a way to show off our culture,” Yajaira said. “It brings pride to me when I am showing kids how to do it. I myself have been doing this since I was 4. Growing up I loved this dance and showing off the culture. But I’m not trying to enclose this culture on everyone. I love American culture as well and I like to celebrate all the holidays with my children. I celebrate U.S. holidays and I celebrate Mexican holidays.”