Day of the Dead

Join us in celebrating the vibrant traditions of the Day of the Dead, a day of remembrance honoring loved ones who have passed away. Enjoy art-making and a lively musical performance by Guadalupe Peraza.

3 - 6 pm - Artmaking Workshops

Participate in the activity station to make and dedicate marigold flowers, mini altars, and buttons.

4 pm - Guadalupe Peraza (Performance)

Enjoy a performance by the highly acclaimed Mexican mezzo-soprano, renowned for her captivating performances on concert and opera stages, accompanied by NYC-based guitarist Yana Davydova, celebrated for her ethereal textures and innovative guitar work.

Mexican Crafts pop-up shop

About Guadalupe Peraza

Mexican mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Peraza had her Lincoln Center solo debut last month with The New Latin Wave and Voices of the New. She has performed on concert and opera stages internationally. Her 2023-24 season includes appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart at David Geffen Hall, New York City Opera, and The American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Bard Music Festival. She was a featured soloist with the American Classical Orchestra in 2022 and 2023, following their recording of the Chaconne Project. In 2021, she received the City Artist Corps Grant and performed with Gotham Early Music Scene’s Open Gates Project. Guadalupe created Mexamorphosis in 2016 and was named “Mexican Woman of the Year” in Union City, NJ. This year, she was awarded by the New York Council on the Arts to present Mexamorphosis at St. Ignatius Loyola on Nov 7, 2024.

About Yana Davydova

Yana Davydova is a NYC-based electric and classical guitar player known for her ethereal and rich textures and creative guitar work influenced by modern classical guitar repertoire as well as ambient/noise styles and free improvisation. She regularly performs, records, and tours with a variety of art rock bands, jazz bands, and electronic music projects (Ayumi Ishito Band, Woodhead, N/Y AV Institute, and others) as well as her main project, Echo Moth, for which she writes music and lyrics. Besides session guitar work, she frequently performs as an improviser creating guitar soundscapes with loops either as a solo act or in collaboration with other musicians or theater companies.

About the Day of the Dead

The Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, has been one of the most important festivals in Mexico since the pre-Hispanic times. It is a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of the dead. The celebration involves adorning special altars known as ofrendas with cempasúchil (marigold) flowers, burning copal incense, fresh pan de muertos bread, candles, sugar skulls, photographs, and mementos of the departed. In Mexico, the Day of the  Dead is celebrated over a week by preparing altars, foods, dance, music, and special offerings for the deceased.

Learn more about the history of the Day of the Dead and find answers to some frequently asked questions.

Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders presents the Day of the Dead in collaboration with the Hispanic Society Museum & Library.

About the Hispanic Society Museum and Library

The Hispanic Society of America was founded in 1904 by Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955) to establish a free, public museum and reference library to study the art and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines. The Hispanic Society's collections are unparalleled in their scope and quality outside of Spain, addressing nearly every aspect of culture in Spain, as well as a large part of Portugal and Latin America, into the 20th century.

About Mano a Mano Mexican Culture Without Borders

Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders (MexCulture) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in New York dedicated to celebrating Mexican culture and promoting the understanding of Mexican traditions.

Photo by Chris Luengas