[Note: please go here to see video of this evenings talk.] Juanita Garciagodoy will visit Northfield on Monday, October 29 at 7:30 pm to give a slide lecture named “Day of the Dead vs. Halloween”. The talk will be at ArtOrg at 200 Division Street (riverside entrance) in Northfield.

The Days of the Dead is a Mexican fiesta with ancient origins. It is a family reunion in which the dead are the guests of honor who are regaled with food, flowers, and things they enjoyed while they were alive. After introducing briefly the practices of this celebration, Juanita will discuss differences between Días de muertos and Halloween, and show how the latter, celebrated at the same time, has made its presence felt more and more in Mexico. We will consider how popular culture works in what appears like another contest in which El Norte (The North) will overwhelm local tradition. The lecture is in English, illustrated by slides. We will (if everything works out!) decorate our sugar skulls to take home for household ofrendas after the talk. Juanita is Professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, and is the author of the book Digging the Days of the Dead.

This event is a part of many Day of the Dead events in the area this year. There is a BIG celebration at the Northfield Armory on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7pm, there is a BIG event at the Northfield High School on Saturday, October 27. Info from from last year’s arc of events can be found here.