This past week saw two major traditions come to pass across the United States. Everyone knows about Halloween, but there was also Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. On November 1st, the Latine Student Organization hosted an event to celebrate the Mexican holiday in the form of the Sugar Skull Ball.

The Sugar Skull Ball saw a transformation of the Lares building, with the cafeteria being home to a common area, hosting a dance competition. The Lubert Commons became an area for guests to get a taste of authentic Latine cuisine, including (but not limited to) plantains, churros, and quesadillas. There was also a temporary photo booth set up with different props and accessories to wear, making those memories into tangible keepsakes.

And it was a transformation of not just the Lares building, but also the atmosphere within. Normally, it’s the place to go and get some lunch, while also talking with friends or doing school work. But that night, it felt like a community coming together to celebrate something of importance. Everyone who came seemed to be having a wonderful time, enjoying a night of good food and even better company.

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday usually celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, however, sometimes it is celebrated on October 31st. In a way, it is thematically fitting for the American tradition of Halloween.

The holiday primarily honors deceased loved ones through ofrendas, or altars. Families create these ofrendas and adorn them with various items such as photographs, personal mementos, and flowers. And indeed, there was an ofrenda at the front of the Lares building containing the submitted photos of various students’ loved ones who have passed on.

It’s not an exaggeration to state the holiday’s importance in the United States, as according to Statista, there are nearly 38 million US citizens of Mexican descent.

Furthermore, according to datausa.io, a data aggregation site that collects and visualizes publicly available government data, Penn State Abington had a roughly 13% Hispanic population in 2022.