Editing Day of the Dead (section)

===North America===

====United States====
[[File:Flower of the Dead ánima (memorial).jpg|thumb|right|An ''ánima'' for the dead]]
[[File:Dia de los Muertos Celebration in Mission District of San Francisco, CA.jpg|thumb|right|Women with calaveras makeup celebrating ''Día de Muertos'' in the [[Mission District]] of San Francisco, California]]

In many communities in the United States with Mexican residents, Day of the Dead celebrations are very similar to those held in Mexico. In some of these communities, in states such as [[Texas]],<ref>{{cite web |last         = Wise |first        = Danno |title        = Port Isabel's Day of the Dead Celebration |work         = Texas Travel |publisher    = [[About.com]] |url          = http://gotexas.about.com/od/festivals/a/Dayofdead.htm |access-date= November 28, 2007 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071209152438/http://gotexas.about.com/od/festivals/a/Dayofdead.htm |archive-date = December 9, 2007 |url-status     = live |df           = mdy-all}}</ref> [[New Mexico]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dia de los Muertos|url=http://www.visitalbuquerque.org/abq365/events/fall/dia-de-los-muertos/|publisher=visitalbuquerque.org|access-date=November 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103173716/http://www.visitalbuquerque.org/abq365/events/fall/dia-de-los-muertos/|archive-date=November 3, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and [[Arizona]],<ref>{{cite web |last         = Hedding |first        = Judy |title        = Day of the Dead |work         = Phoenix |publisher    = [[About.com]] |url          = http://phoenix.about.com/od/events/a/dayofthedead.htm |access-date= November 28, 2007 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071211012536/http://phoenix.about.com/od/events/a/dayofthedead.htm |archive-date = December 11, 2007 |url-status     = live |df           = mdy-all}}</ref> the celebrations tend to be mostly traditional. The [[Tucson, Arizona#All Souls Procession Weekend|All Souls Procession]] has been an annual event since 1990 in [[Tucson, Arizona]]. The event combines elements of traditional Day of the Dead celebrations with those of pagan harvest festivals. People wearing masks carry signs honoring the dead and an urn in which people can place slips of paper with prayers on them to be burned.<ref>{{cite news |last         = White |first        = Erin |title        = All Souls Procession |work         = [[Arizona Daily Star]] |date         = November 5, 2006 |url          = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-153859362.html |access-date= November 28, 2007 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106122818/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-153859362.html |archive-date = November 6, 2012 |url-status     = dead |df           = mdy-all}}</ref> Likewise, Old Town San Diego, California, annually hosts a traditional two-day celebration culminating in a candlelight procession to the historic El Campo Santo Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sddayofthedead.org/|title=Old Town San Diego's Dia de los Muertos|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107110640/http://sddayofthedead.org/|archive-date=November 7, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The festival also was held annually at historic [[Forest Hills Cemetery]] in [[Boston]]'s [[Jamaica Plain]] neighborhood. Sponsored by Forest Hills Educational Trust and the folkloric performance group La Piñata, the Day of the Dead festivities celebrated the cycle of life and death. People brought offerings of flowers, photos, mementos, and food for their departed loved ones, which they placed at an elaborately and colorfully decorated altar. A program of traditional music and dance also accompanied the community event. The Jamaica Plain celebration was discontinued in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oliveira |first=Rebeca |date=4 November 2011 |title=Day of the Dead dies as cemetery cuts arts |url=https://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2011/11/04/day-of-the-dead-dies-as-cemetery-cuts-arts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019154458/https://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2011/11/04/day-of-the-dead-dies-as-cemetery-cuts-arts/ |archive-date=19 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Jamaica Plain Gazette}}</ref>

The [[Smithsonian Institution]], in collaboration with the [[University of Texas at El Paso]] and [[Second Life]], have created a Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum and accompanying multimedia e-book: ''Día de los Muertos: Day of the Dead''. The project's website contains some of the text and images which explain the origins of some of the customary core practices related to the Day of the Dead, such as the background beliefs and the ''offrenda'' (the special altar commemorating one's deceased loved one).<ref>{{cite book |title=Día de los Muertos: Day of the Dead |author=Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum |url=https://books.apple.com/ca/book/dia-de-los-muertos/id930169569 |edition=Version 1.2 |access-date=October 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222045935/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/dia-de-los-muertos/id930169569?mt=11 |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Made For [[iTunes]] multimedia e-book version provides additional content, such as further details; additional photo galleries; pop-up profiles of influential Latino artists and cultural figures over the decades; and video clips<ref>{{cite web|website=Ustream|title=Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum|url=http://www.ustream.tv/channel/smithsonian-latino-virtual-museum|access-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031140943/http://www.ustream.tv/channel/smithsonian-latino-virtual-museum|archive-date=October 31, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> of interviews with artists who make ''Día de Muertos''-themed artwork, explanations and performances of Aztec and other traditional dances, an animation short that explains the customs to children, virtual poetry readings in English and Spanish.<ref>{{cite web| website=Theater of the Dead| url=http://www.latino.si.edu/DayoftheDead/| author=Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum| title=Day of the Dead| access-date=October 31, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112194321/http://latino.si.edu/dayofthedead/| archive-date=November 12, 2014| url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum Press Release |url=http://www.latino.si.edu/education/LVMDayoftheDeadFestival.htm |title=Smithsonian-UTEP Día de los Muertos Festival: A 2D and 3D Experience! |author=Smithsonian Institution |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106113057/http://latino.si.edu/education/LVMDayoftheDeadFestival.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2009}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden-Harris administration]] celebrated the ''Día de Muertos''.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1455331550820700162 |title=Feliz Día de los Muertos de la Administración Biden-Harris. Hoy y mañana, el Presidente y la Primera Dama reconocerán el Día de los Muertos con la primera ofrenda ubicada en la Casa Blanca. |user=LaCasaBlanca |date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 4, 2021 |language=es}}</ref>

=====California=====
[[Santa Ana, California]], is said to hold the "largest event in Southern California" honoring ''Día de Muertos'', called the annual {{lang|es|Noche de Altares}}, which began in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/halloween-689815-orange-year.html|title=Less-scary holiday: Some faith groups offer alternatives to Halloween trick-or-treating|work=The Orange County Register|date=October 30, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031115047/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/halloween-689815-orange-year.html|archive-date=October 31, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The celebration of the Day of the Dead in Santa Ana has grown to two large events with the creation of an event held at the [[Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center]] for the first time on November 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/downtown-689840-cordova-event.html|title=Viva la Vida or Noche de Altares? Santa Ana's downtown division fuels dueling Day of the Dead events|work=The Orange County Register|date=October 30, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103205441/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/downtown-689840-cordova-event.html|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In other communities, interactions between Mexican traditions and American culture are resulting in celebrations in which Mexican traditions are being extended to make artistic or sometimes political statements. For example, in [[Los Angeles, California]], the [[Self Help Graphics & Art]] Mexican-American cultural center presents an annual Day of the Dead celebration that includes both traditional and political elements, such as altars to honor the victims of the [[Iraq War]], highlighting the high casualty rate among Latino soldiers. An updated, intercultural version of the Day of the Dead is also evolving at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|authorlink=Sam Quinones|author=Quinones, Sam|date=October 28, 2006|url=https://latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-dead28oct28,1,2576906.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california|title=Making a night of Day of the Dead|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 26, 2006|archive-date=November 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103135422/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-xpm-2013-oct-28-la-me-ln-man-dead-lapuente-20131028-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There, in a mixture of [[Indigenous peoples of California|Native Californian]] art, Mexican traditions and Hollywood hip, conventional altars are set up side by side with altars to [[Jayne Mansfield]] and [[Johnny Ramone]]. Colorful native dancers and music intermix with [[performance art]]ists, while sly [[prank]]sters play on traditional themes.

Similar traditional and intercultural updating of Mexican celebrations are held in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]]. For example, the [[Galería de la Raza]], SomArts Cultural Center, Mission Cultural Center, [[de Young Museum]] and altars at [[Garfield Square]] by the Marigold Project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dayofthedeadsf.org|title=Dia de los Muertos [Day of the Dead] – San Francisco|access-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017054851/http://www.dayofthedeadsf.org/|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Oakland is home to ''Corazon Del Pueblo'' in the Fruitvale district. ''Corazon Del Pueblo'' has a shop offering handcrafted Mexican gifts and a museum devoted to Day of the Dead artifacts. Also, the Fruitvale district in Oakland serves as the hub of the ''Día de Muertos'' annual festival which occurs the last weekend of October. Here, a mix of several Mexican traditions come together with traditional Aztec dancers, regional Mexican music, and other Mexican artisans to celebrate the day.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Oranges-on-the-Altars-for-Fruitvale-s-Day-of-the-2699910.php | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | first=Vicky | last=Elliott | title=Lively Petaluma festival marks Day of the Dead | date=October 27, 2000 | access-date=August 6, 2010 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708031913/http://articles.sfgate.com/2000-10-27/news/17664863_1_el-corazon-muertos-altar | archive-date=July 8, 2012 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], the city that borders Mexico, the celebrations range across the entire county. All the way up at the most northern part of the county, [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] celebrates their annual event which includes community and family altars built around the Oceanside Civic Center and Pier View Way, as well as events at the [[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia]]. In the more central area of San Diego, [[City Heights, San Diego|City Heights]] celebrates through a public festival in Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park that includes at least 35 altars, lowriders, and entertainment, all for free. Down in [[Chula Vista, California|Chula Vista]], they celebrate the tradition through a movie night at Third and Davidson streets where they will be screening "Coco." This movie night also consists of a community altar, an Altar contest, a catrin/catrina contest, as well as lots of music, food, and vendors. Overall, San Diego is booming with colorful celebrations honoring ancestors across the county.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McIntosh |first1=Linda |last2=Groch |first2=Laura |date=2022-10-20 |title=Celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Diego County with these festive events |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/north-county-community-news/story/2022-10-20/dia-de-los-muertos-festivities-happening-across-north-county |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101205344/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/north-county-community-news/story/2022-10-20/dia-de-los-muertos-festivities-happening-across-north-county |url-status=live }}</ref>