Cook County Officials Celebrate Día de Los Muertos

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(Cook County, IL) - On Friday, November 1, Cook County officials and local residents came together to celebrate Día de Los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”). In attendance were Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioners Frank Aguilar, Anthony Quezada, Alma Anaya, Tara Stamps and John Daley, as well as ofrenda artists Juan Hernandez and Araceli Ramirez, and representatives from the Mexican Civic Society of Illinois. To close the celebration, local residents performed and attendees gathered in front of the ofrenda located in the lobby of the Cook County Building to honor deceased Cook County residents.

“The celebration of Día de Los Muertos acknowledges that we still have a relationship with our ancestors and loved ones that have passed away. Today, we invite those Cook County residents who have left us to come back into our lives, if only for a moment, and remember the impact they had on all of us,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. 

Held annually on November 1 and 2, Día de los Muertos is a traditional Meso-American holiday dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death and the cycle of life. It is observed as a day to honor deceased family members and loved ones by “welcoming them back” through various customs, including making dedicated altars (ofrendas), laying out special food offerings, and visiting their graves.

“The Día de Los Muertos ofrenda represents a memorial to remember and honor the lives of loved ones who passed on. It’s remembering the good times we’ve had spent with them, keeping their memory alive in our hearts,” said Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar.

An ofrenda is a traditional altar with a collection of objects placed on a ritual display during the annual Día de Muertos celebration. An ofrenda is created for individuals who have died and is intended to welcome them to the altar setting.

"For the Mexican Civic Society of Illinois, it is a great honor to represent this pre-Hispanic tradition of Mexico such as the celebration of the Day of the Dead together with Commissioner Frank Aguilar who has always distinguished himself as a leader in the community and preserving the roots, customs and traditions of the Mexican people. We also thank President Toni Preckwinkle for her support of this important celebration," said Miguel Sánchez, Director of the Mexican Civic Society of Illinois.

This is the fourth consecutive year that county officials have celebrated Dia de los Muertos with an ofrenda in the Cook County Lobby. This is the first year featuring the artwork of Juan Hernandez and Araceli Ramirez. The artwork merged Mexican, Mexican American and Chicano culture to show the rich history and traditions that have carried from Mexico to Cook County, Chicago and throughout the world. These celebrations also call on others to care for those in need. It is a call to support our family, friends, neighbors, and to remember and honor their contributions in life and in death.