Halloween may be over, but another holiday kicks off Nov. 1. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, begins Nov. 1 and ends on Nov. 2. Families will be putting up altars, or ofrendas, dedicated to their ancestors who have passed.
Its origins are in Mexico, but the holiday has gone worldwide in recent years largely thanks to movies like Disney’s "Coco" and a misguided conflation with Halloween.
Both holidays might include skeletons and spirits, but Emily Costello says Day of the Dead isn’t macabre or scary — it’s a celebration.
Costello is a painter, printer and mixed media artist in the Valley, and much of her work is inspired by Day of the Dead. But while many have called out cultural appropriation when it comes to the spread of this holiday in pop culture, she is happy to share it — as long as it's with the right intentions in mind. The Show spoke with her to learn why.
