Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in many Latin American countries between October 31^st - November 2^nd. As fans of the movies Coco or The Book of Life already know, this holiday is a time when families get together to remember their loved ones who have passed away. Many of these Latin American families create ofrendas to display inside their homes. These ofrendas are a table or small shelf that hold family mementos that serve to remind them of relatives, pets, or sometimes even famous people. Flowers, toys, pictures, and pastries all take up space in an ofrenda as an "offering" to their loved ones who are no longer with them.

Stop by our ofrendas at the Belmont, Millbrae, Portola Valley, San Carlos, and Woodside Libraries to leave a special token of remembrance for a loved one.

Children's Programs

Let's make art! Come join us at our libraries as we invite Rachel Palacios, a local East Bay artist and educator, to teach us about making alebrijes, repujado, and other Latinx folk art.

Día de los Muertos is also about celebrating life through music, laughter, and fun! Join us as we invite 123 Andrés to our branches. Andrés and Christina are an award-winning duo with catchy songs and a high-energy show that gets families singing and dancing in Spanish and English. 123 Andrés has performed for audiences across the US and in Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and even the Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Teen Program

Skulls, or calaveras, are a major image associated with Día de los Muertos. The most famous is Calavera de la Catrina, a female skull in a fancy hat created by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada in the early 20^th century. On the holiday, many people celebrate by dressing up as la Catrina. Teens will have the chance to create their own calavera look by painting their faces.

Make sure to check out the great Día de los Muertos mariachi music, opens a new window you can stream on Freegal, or check out these teen novels that include Día de los Muertos:

The First Rule of Punk

Can't Look Away

The Tequila Worm