Día de los Muertos: Community, Heritage, & The Y
Photo: Marciela Rodriguez standing with a Mariachi trumpet player and two people dressed up as Día de los Muertos sugar skulls
As part of our ongoing commitment to build healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities for all generations, we wanted to share the rich history and tradition of Día de los Muertos, written by Luchi Boyle, Health and Living Director of Chinatown YMCA and Co-Lead Chair for Latinx ERG. We invite you to learn more about the day dedicated to honoring loved ones and keeping their stories and memories alive.
The Blending of Beliefs
Día de los Muertos is a powerful example of cultural fusion and colonization. When the Spanish arrived in the Americas, one of their goals was to indoctrinate the Indigenous people by imposing their religion, Catholicism. In doing so, they often took existing Indigenous traditions and blended them with Catholic beliefs to make them more acceptable, more “Christian.”
Like many Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs already had rituals and ceremonies to honor their dead. They believed that the spirits of loved ones returned during specific times of the year, and they celebrated those visits with offerings, music, and memories. When the Spanish colonizers encountered these traditions, they infused them with elements of Catholicism, such as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, creating what we now know as Día de los Muertos.
Out of this mixture, a new culture was born. Our ancestors’ past shaped our future, giving rise to our mestizo identity, a blend of Indigenous and Spanish heritage. Día de los Muertos stands as a symbol of that complex history: both a celebration of life and death, and a reminder of resistance, adaptation, and cultural survival.
But to describe Día de Muertos solely by its history is to miss its soul. At its heart lies the ofrenda, or altar, a sacred space built to welcome back the departed. Each altar is as unique as the person being honored. There may be a photograph of a beloved grandfather, a tamal wrapped in banana leaf, a worn baseball cap, a favorite drink, or a handwritten note. Everything placed there holds meaning. The marigolds are thought to attract spirits with their vibrant color and distinctive smell. Candles provide light to guide them. Sugar skulls and papel picado remind us that death, like life, can be colorful and full of joy.
So this season, let’s come together. Let’s share the stories that made us, the people who loved us, and the flavors and music that still echo in our memories. Because when we do, we aren’t just honoring the past, we’re nourishing the roots of who we are.
Photo: A low rider Día de los Muertos altar adorned with a tablecloth, candles, sugar skulls, marigolds, food offerings, photographs of loved ones, and more.
What Goes Onto the Altar?
Every altar is a portrait of love. It can include:
• Marigold flowers: Their scent is said to guide the souls back home.
• Pan de muerto: Round like the cycle of life, with little “bones” made of dough on top.
• Photos of our loved ones.
• Candles to light the way.
• The favorite foods of the departed — because even spirits get cravings.
• Papel picado, water, sugar skulls, and even personal items.
How Can You Join the Celebration?
Even if you didn’t grow up with it, here’s how you can celebrate:
• Eating Pan de Muertos. Try el pan from “La Mejor Bakery” at 3329 24th Street, San Francisco, California
• Creating your own altar
• Attending the San Francisco Symphony’s Día de los Muertos Concert on November 2nd, 2025
A Special Thanks
On behalf of our Latinx ERG, we’d like to thank our members who supported the Dia de los Muertos event at the Academy of Sciences. Your participation and engagement helped make it a wonderful and fun celebration! Here are more photos from the event:
Photos: Members of the YMCA of Greater San Francisco’s Latinx ERG
