For Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) this year, Westridge students in Bonnie Martinez's Spanish I class created beautiful ofrendas (altars honoring the dead) to spotlight impactful performers, activists, athletes, and artists of Mexican heritage as part of their study of the nation, including:

• Rosario Castellanos, one of the preeminent feminist poets in twentieth-century Mexican literature
• Petra Herrera, soldadera (or female soldier) who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Mexican Revolution
• Frida Kahlo, painter known for her many portraits and self-portraits
• Ana Ofelia Murguía, actress who is known for voicing the titular character in “Coco”
• Sylvia Rivera, activist for gay and transgender rights
• Selena, beloved Tejana singer
• Fernando Valenzuela (or, as Dodger fans may know him, "El Toro"), professional baseball pitcher

Next week in honor of Día de los Muertos, the entire Westridge community will share pan de muerto (Mexican sweet bread), an annual tradition co-hosted by the World Languages and Cultures department; the Lower, Middle, and Upper School division offices; and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society).

What is Día de los Muertos? This holiday, which translates to Day of the Dead, is typically celebrated on November 1 and 2. It is meant to honor loved ones who have passed away, and is recognized predominantly in Mexico, Central America, and many cities throughout the United States. Families set up an ofrenda generally consisting of the loved one's favorite food, items to represent them, marigolds, papel picado, and more.