Ancient tradition of honoring the dead is very much alive

The shrunken skulls molded out of sugar in the window of a Mexican restaurant in Montclair are not meant to scare Halloween trick-or-treaters.

The sometimes-edible creations are a tradition of the Mexican holiday El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrated Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 to honor loved ones who have died. The holiday originated in pre-Colombian times and was melded with Catholic traditions after the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

For the last five years, employees at Tinga Taqueria, 215 Bellevue Ave., have made 1,200 skulls for area school children to decorate. More than 70 youngsters came Wednesday afternoon to decorate skulls with colorful icing, gold-colored tinfoil, glitter and sequins, said general manager Juan Valdez. A similar craft project was held at the restaurant's two other locations, in Millburn and Westfield.

Visiting the display at the restaurant is one of a handful of ways to celebrate the occasion today. A couple of Montclair churches -- Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church St., and the First Congregational Church, 40 S. Fullerton St. -- have created altars and are putting on celebrations. A local yoga studio is also hosting a themed workshop.

"The Day of the Dead is a very ancient tradition of honoring the people who have passed, especially those related to you," said Alfredo Villela, a Montclair resident who grew up in Mexico City. "It has to be more than the skulls and the altar. It has to do with the connection with your limits, with your past. It is a celebration to remember where you come from."

Villela, who works as a drummer for Starseed Yoga, 215 Glenridge Ave., is putting on the workshop, which costs $25, at 6 p.m. today.

He will perform Náhuatl songs in an ancient ritual to commune with past generations and re-create the "ofrenda," an altar with marigolds, sugar skulls, pictures of the deceased and offerings of food and gifts that ancestors enjoyed. Traditional incense, made from the resin of the copal tree, will be burned.

In some cases, Villela said, people write their names on the sugar skulls to remind themselves of life's frailty.

"It's like a little reminder that we're all just passing by," he said.

According to the tradition, the spirits of loved ones are expected to visit on the two days, but this isn't meant to be spooky, he said. Mexicans have a different perspective on death.

"Instead of being afraid of it, why don't you kind of laugh a little?" he said. "Why don't you take it a little more easy?"

Villela said he will also be playing music at a celebration of the holiday at his church, Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Jose German, who organized the event at First Congregational Church, said the holiday is gaining popularity in California, New Mexico, Texas and the New York area as more Mexicans come to this country. His church will also be honoring soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When Eduardo Calapa, an employee at Tinga Taqueria, was living in Mexico, the holiday was a community event, with a focus on food, including a homemade bread called pan de los muertos. Sometimes, people visit their loved ones at the cemetery and bring offerings and flowers.

"Here, we have not really had a chance to do it like in Mexico," the Passaic resident said.

Nic Corbett is a reporter with the New Jersey Local News Service. She may be reached at (908) 243-6216 or ncorbett@njlns.com.