Noche de Altares

NOCHE DE ALTARES

SANTA ANA CALIFORNIA

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Editor's Note The distinctive cultural expression of difference

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El Centro Cultural A cultural, educational, and artistic space in Santa Ana, CaliforniaÂ

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The Night of Alters By making altars, participants are inviting fellow community members into their own life and passions for a loved one.

Editors Note

In the beautiful city of Santa Ana, California the Mexican Celebration, Noche de Altares (Night of Alters), is celebrated in the center of the City’s Downtown on a street known as La Calle Cuatro. This event is an example of a celebration that not only reconnects community to loved ones, ancestors and the past, but invites those who are from different cultures, those who typically stand outside of this cultural enactment to step inside for one day.

This beautiful event radically transfigures and transforms public space. The cultural expression of its difference distinctively blurs the lines between what is commonly understood as public and private space; life, death, and

Event Hosted by El Centro Cultural mourning; and the meaning of celebration. Impressed by Photos by Laura Kanter the beautiful Images taken by local photographer Laura Magazine by Madeleine Spencer

Kanter I thought it was an opportunity to create a display NOMADIC

through this platform for the public to enjoy.

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ANNUAL EVENT PRESENTED BY

El Centro Cultural de Mexico El Centro Cultural de Mexico is an alternative space in Santa Ana where the community can find cultural, educational, and artistic activities that strengthen their identities, develop their talents and develop a sense of leadership in their community.

By engaging Orange County residents and communities through community outreach efforts, it supports inter and intracultural interaction and dialogue among Orange County’s residents by creating a variety of programs which enables all people to explore their own heritage and culture.

Since 2002, El Centro Cultural de Mexico has been organizing Noche de Altares, or a Night of Altars, a community based Día de los Muertos. This event promotes understanding and appreciation of of Mexico’s rich cultural, and educational, and social legacy.

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The Night of Alters A celebration, where families, students, community organization and businesses come together to create an authentic cultural experience that reflects Mexican tradition and what makes up our communities today. Organized by volunteers, the purpose of the celebration is to honor the ancient traditions of the festival and bring community members together through art, culture, and compassion.

For one night, families, students, community organizations, activists, artists, and businesses are invited to build an altar in memory of a deceased loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue. By making altars, participants are inviting fellow community members into their own life and passions for a loved one.

Over the years we have seen altars bring strangers together through mutual compassion, understanding and dialogue. Families reunite to remember and honor their loved ones.

In addition to viewing beautifully created altars, attendees are entertained by cultural performances and live music. Children come out to get their face painted and participate in free, art workshops. Local artists sell their wares and local restaurants will be cooking their most delicious dishes.