SEATTLE — The Seattle Catrinas Festival is set to take place every day between Nov. 2 and Nov. 5 at The Town Hall in Seattle on Eighth Avenue.
The four-day event is being held in honor of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
The festivities in Seattle include live dance, music, museums, vendors, and food, which will happen each night from 3 to 9:30 p.m.
Día de los Muertos is a two-day celebration on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 honoring the lives of deceased loved ones. The first day is dedicated to children, or little angels, who have passed away and the following day is dedicated to the deceased adult loved ones.
The celebration dates back to pre-colonial times and stems from both Aztec and Catholic influence by Spain in Mexico.
During the annual Catrinas Festival, the public is invited to bring pictures, flowers, candles, and mementos of loved ones to place on the giant altar decorated with flowers, folk art, and “ofrendas."
Every year, for Día de los Muertos, families will put up ofrendas - altars to honor loved ones who have died. Ofrenda means "offering" in Spanish. The offerings placed on an ofrenda include photos of loved ones, candles, the favorite foods of loved ones, water, paper flowers, and calaveras (decorative sugar skulls). Marigolds are also part of traditional ofrendas. The bright flower symbolizes the light which helps your loved ones find their way back to you.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Día de los Muertos is the tall female skeleton wearing a fancy hat - La Catrina. The modern Catrina most people see today came to life in the early 1900s by artist José Guadalupe Posada. La Catrina is believed to have first appeared in 1912 just a few months before Posada’s death.
The event in Seattle will have a street market full of local entrepreneurs offering a large number of traditional food, face painting, handcrafted art, and Día de los Muertos ambiance music by DJ Oscar Cortes.
Event organizers said that the event will have a permanent altar dedicated to the Jews killed during the holocaust and the museum of The Unforgettable.
More than 200 Catrinas will be displayed, all handmade by Mexican families in Mexico.
Attendees will have opportunities to get a photo memory with living statues, with the famous “Mojigangas” Frida and Pepe, or with the live Catrinas and Catrines at our photo booth.
Evening events happening each day, between Nov. 2 and Nov. 5:
- 4:30 p.m. - "Loteria" or Mexican bingo for children and families.
- 5:30 p.m. - Danza Azteca by “Nahui Ollin Tezcatlipocatl” will be opening the live entertainment
- 6:30 p.m. - Performance called, "The Unforgettable,” will be on the stage. The two-and-a-half hour unique cultural and artistic show will include the famous candlelight live Catrinas Procession, Ballet Folklorico Fuego Nuevo from San Jose, CA., Baile Folklore Colibrí from Seattle, and the largest Mariachi of the world “Estrella de Mexico” directly from Guadalajara.
- 9:00 p.m. - Closing festivities will include a short show called Magic Night by Yoel Photo Studio and living Catrinas.
For ticket information and other details about the Seattle Catrinas Festival - click here.