Hollywood Forever’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration

A tradition that pays homage to the dead and began in Mexico with the Aztec and Nahua tribes is alive and well today. I’m referring to Dia de los Muertos. The holiday is a mix of Mesoamerican and European customs and celebrates the memory of those who’ve departed from this earthly realm. Hollywood Forever Cemetery held their annual Dia y Noche del los Muertos event and this was my second year attending the latter. I’m here to tell you all about it and share photos from the evening.

Hollywood Forever presents a daytime and nighttime event for the Day of the Dead. The earlier festivities feature more family-friendly activities and the one following has live music performances and a DJ. It’s mesmerizing witnessing the way the grounds light up once the sun sets. The theme for this year was “Máscaras de México – Vida y Muerte en la Mascara,” which translates to “Masks of Mexico – Life and Death in the Mask.” It highlighted the significance masks have had in Indigenous funerary practices throughout Latin America.

There’s no missing the vibrant marigold archway that greets guests at the main entrance. An elaborate ofrenda (altar) was set up front and center decorated with marigolds, masks, and Indigenous artifacts and symbols. The first thing I did was walk the long aisles filled with altars created by families, non-profits, schools, and other organizations. People can register to display an ofrenda at the event and participate in a contest to win a monetary prize.

The individuals that partake in making an altar for the occasion are truly invested in the ritual and meaning behind the process. The ofrendas are ornate, detailed and unique; no two look alike. A few really stood out to me. One of the first I came across was called, “Togetherness,” and had an elegantly adorned skeletal figure that reminded me of Santa Muerte. Another was in the shape of a pyramid titled “Thy Kingdoms Come” by Jose Luis Zuno. It had several cages hanging from beams all around with dolls inside them. Some may find that creepy, but I found it fascinating. It reminded me of the legend of La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls) in Mexico where several dolls hang from trees. The caged dolls represented the persecuted and the project carried political significance.

There was also an ofrenda dedicated to Frida Kahlo and filled with images of the renowned Mexican artist. One altar had pieces of paper and markers laid out so guests could write the names of their dearly departed and place them on the ofrenda to honor their memory. I stopped to write the name of my fur baby, Snow, who passed earlier this year. It was emotional and I got a bit choked up, but I was glad I had the opportunity to do that.

There were plenty of skeletons, calaveras (skulls) and people dressed up as the iconic La Catrina. The women I came across looked immaculate, wearing stunning makeup and gowns. The cathedral housed the Rafael Coronel art exhibit along with displays of all kinds of masks from different regions of Mexico and Latin America. You all know I love dark art, and it was my first time seeing the work of Coronel.  

The Mexican artist lived from 1931 to 2019 and his work was categorized as part of the Rupture and hyperrealism art movements. He was influenced by the likes of Goya and Caravaggio, and his pieces typically featured morbid figures and elements, such as demons, the dead, wizards and masks. I was taken with “El Tastoán y la niña de Jerez,” a grand piece showcasing characters, human and non-human, in various states of being. There was something mystical about his incorporation of crimson throughout the work. The shade saturated certain areas and was used to paint garments, flowers and blood-stained skin.

The evening’s entertainment on the main stage included Bratty, Camila Fernandez, Banda Las Angelinas, Azteca Telpochcalli Coyolxauhqui, and Bomba Estéreo as the headliner. Bomba Estéreo hails from Colombia and has an electro tropical sound. I was familiar with some of their music, but not much, so it was wonderful getting to hear many of their songs live. As the grand finale of the night, they put on quite a show. Neon colors, strobe lights and mushrooms dominated the stage. The singer donned an electrifying outfit that appeared to glow in the dark. At certain points, it felt like I was at a rave festival. The group put on a highly fueled performance that energized the crowd and had many dancing and singing along.  

Above the stage, I could see the full moon. I must mention that it was the night of the Taurus Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, which embodied themes of rebirth and the beginning and ending of cycles. I feel like it couldn’t have been a more fitting way to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Magic was truly in the air, and I felt surrounded and supported by my ancestors and guides.

As I departed that night, I felt at peace and also a bit sad to leave. However, I left also feeling closer to my Mexican heritage, my loved ones who’ve passed and to life itself.

Where to Stalk

Dia de los Muertos official website

Hollywood Forever