(MUSIC PLAYING) - IN D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, I'M HONORING MY GRANDMA BECAUSE SHE SHOWED ME THE BASIS TO CELEBRATE AND INCORPORATE ALL THESE COMPONENTS AND FOOD TO RECEIVE AND BRING WELCOMING TO YOUR FAMILY AFTER THEY PASS AWAY.

- I'M ALL ABOUT HONORING OUR LOVED ONES, OUR FRIENDS.

AND WHAT A BETTER WAY THAN TO DO IT LIKE THIS?

- WE GET TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

WE HAVE MUSIC.

WE HAVE FOOD.

WE HAVE DRINKS.

IT'S A PARTY WHERE WE GET TO REMINISCE, WHERE WE GET TO TELL STORIES, WHERE WE GET TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A FAMILY TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.

- D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, DAY OF THE DEAD, WITH ORIGINS IN MEXICO WITH THE AZTECA AND MEXICA, A DAY TO HONOR THE DEAD, THE PASSED ONES, OUR ANCESTORS, IS A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL, STARTING NOVEMBER 1, WHEN ALL OF THE LITTLE ONES COME OUT AND LEAD THE PROCESSION.

ON THE SECOND DAY IS WHEN WE GET TO GREET OUR LOVED ONES WITH OFFERINGS WITH OUR OFRENDA .

ANYTHING THAT THEY LOVED WE OFFER THEM ON THE ALTAR, PICTURES OF THEM, MEMORIES OF THEM, STORIES OF THEM.

WE GET TO GREET THEM AND REMEMBER THEIR LIVES.

WE GET TO GREET THEM AND REMEMBER THEIR LIVES.

D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS IS A UNIVERSAL HOLIDAY THAT CAN BE CELEBRATED BY ANYONE BECAUSE DEATH IS A UNIVERSAL JOURNEY IN ALL OF US.

- I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING.

I'M ALL ABOUT HONORING OUR LOVED ONES, OUR FRIENDS.

AND WHAT A BETTER WAY THAN TO DO IT LIKE THIS, AND JUST REALLY GIVE THEM THE TIME AND RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE?

WE'RE LIGHTING IT.

AS MUCH AS I CAN, I KIND OF... LIKE THIS ONE, LOOK AT THE PERSON THAT THE CANDLE IS IN FRONT OF, AND JUST, IN MY HEAD, KIND OF WISH THEM WELL, WISH THEIR FAMILY WELL.

I THINK THE INITIAL SPARK HAPPENED WHEN PAUL, AGAIN, MY PARTNER, WAS OUTSIDE.

WE HAD SOME JUNIPER BUSHES IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO GET RID OF.

HE'S OUT HERE JUST RIPPING AND PULLING AND GETTING FRUSTRATED.

AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT, IT MADE HIM THINK ABOUT HIS FATHER, WHO HE HAD LOST QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY WHEN WE FIRST MET, TO A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.

HE WAS LIKE, "OH, I WISH MY DAD WAS HERE."

AND IT WAS IN THE FALL.

AND THAT JUST WAS LIKE, "OH, WE SHOULD, INSTEAD OF DECORATING FOR HALLOWEEN, THE TRADITIONAL HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR, LET'S DO THIS."

AND I WAS LIKE, "GO FOR IT."

I WAS RAISED IRISH CATHOLIC.

I WASN'T EVER SUPER RELIGIOUS.

I JUST KNEW, PERSONALLY, MY BELIEF IS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING.

AND THEN I MET MY PARTNER ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, WHO IS HISPANIC, AND KIND OF OPENED MY EYES TO MORE OF A HISPANIC CULTURE.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LEFT THEIR PHOTOS IN OUR CARE FOR THIS YEAR, TOO.

UNFORTUNATELY, THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I'VE LOST TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS TO SUICIDE.

I'VE LOST SOME FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT, I NEED THIS, AS WELL."

IT WAS CATHARTIC FOR US TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LOSSES, BUT THEN ALSO GIVE THEM A PLACE TO BE AND TO BE HONORED.

AND THEN, WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WE LOVE IT SO MUCH, AND I'M KIND OF A SOCIAL GUY, SO I WAS LIKE, "LET'S SEND IT AROUND TO EVERYONE."

AND THAT'S WHEN PAUL WAS LIKE, "OH, WE SHOULD DO IT A COMMUNITY THING."

I WAS LIKE, "LET'S DO IT."

WE THINK OF THIS AS A PLACE OF HONOR, SO WHEN PEOPLE DO COME, AND WE LIKE TO GIVE THEM TIME.

THANKS FOR COMING.

I JUST LIKE TO HEAR STORIES, REALLY.

I'LL BE LIKE--WE HAD ONE DROP OFF SOME A LITTLE BIT AGO.

I'M LIKE, "HEY, WHO IS THIS?

WHO ARE THEY TO YOU?"

AND I JUST LIKE TO HEAR THEIR STORIES.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE SAD, BUT A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'RE HAPPY.

AND JUST THINKING OF ALL THE GREAT MEMORIES THEY HAD.

THEY'LL BRING LITTLE TRINKETS AND LITTLE THINGS THAT THE PERSON MAY HAVE LIKED.

MEETING PEOPLE WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, LIKE PAUL MET FAMILY MEMBERS HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD THROUGH PHOTOS ON THE OFRENDA .

BECAUSE SOMEONE CAME AND THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, THAT'S MY AUNT SO-AND-SO."

AND THEN HE WAS LIKE, "THAT'S MY AUNT SO-AND-SO," AND THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, WE'RE RELATED."

- THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'M THERE TO TALK.

I'M THERE NOT TO TALK.

WHATEVER THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO DO, I WANT TO HONOR.

SOMEONE HAS PASSED ON, AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THEM.

AND FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, AND WITH CULTURE, DAY OF THE DEAD, THEY CAN COME BACK AND KIND OF VISIT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY PUT UP THE OFRENDA .

AGAIN, NORMALLY, IT'S ONE PERSON.

WE'RE OPENING UP TO EVERYONE TO KIND OF GIVE THEM THE PATH TO COME BACK TO.

AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE, THERE'S SOME FOOD UP THERE, SO THEY'LL BRING THINGS THAT THEY LIKE TO NOURISH THEIR BODIES WHILE THEY'RE VISITING, AND KIND OF BEING WITH THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THEN GOING TO WHEREVER THEY MAY NEED TO GO.

DEPENDING ON WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE, I THINK THAT THEY'RE AROUND, FOR SURE.

AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT THIS WHOLE GROUP OF REALLY AMAZING INDIVIDUALS.

REALLY WANT TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR A SAFE HAVEN, FOR HONORING YOUR LOVED ONES, FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY REFLECT ON THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE AND NOT THE NEGATIVE.

EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE COULD BE THERE THAT YOU'VE LOST, THAT YOU'VE LOVED, AND IT'S HARD, AND YOU'RE STRUGGLING, IT'S JUST TO REALIZE YOU CAN GO THROUGH THAT, BUT ALSO SEE THE GOOD.

[INDISCERNIBLE].

- MY WORK IS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE NAME [INDISCERNIBLE], WHICH MEANS "GREAT-HORNED OWL WOMAN."

AND THAT'S IN THE MEXICA TRADITION.

IN THE MAYAN TRADITION, I HAVE THE ENERGIES OF THE BAT WHICH ALSO IS A NOCTURNAL.

THESE ANIMALS ARE NOCTURNAL AND WORK CLOSE WITH DEATH.

MY WORK REALLY IS ABOUT TAKING PEOPLE INTO THEIR DEATH, THE DEATH OF MAYBE WHAT NO LONGER SERVES THEM, MAYBE IT IS GOING INTO REMOVING THE DEATH.

LET'S SAY THEY'RE VERY ILL. MY WORK IS ABOUT GOING AND ASKING THE DEATH TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEM.

IN THE BIG PICTURE, IN ALL OF THE CLIENTS, I SEE PEOPLE FOR EVERY DIFFERENT THING YOU CAN IMAGINE, FROM HEALTH AND WELLNESS, TO MAYBE THEY'RE PREPARING FOR DEATH, MAYBE THEY'RE PREPARING TO HAVE A BABY, MAYBE IT'S INFERTILITY.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME, THE BIG CHUNK IS RELATIONSHIPS, MATTERS OF THE HEART.

HELLO.

I AM NATALINE RUTH CRUZ.

I AM A SHAMANIC PRACTITIONER, MAYAN PRIEST OF THE FIFTH SUN, ENERGY WORKER, SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, ENERGY HEALER, AND TEACHER, AMONGST OTHER THINGS.

MY ITALIAN GRANDMOTHER HAD A LITTLE--SHE WOULDN'T CALL IT AN ALTAR BECAUSE SHE WAS CATHOLIC, BUT I CALL IT--I KNOW IT WAS AN ALTAR-ISH.

SHE HAD CANDLES BURNING, ALL HER SAINTS, HER FAVORITE SAINTS, AND SHE PRAYED TO THE ALTAR ALL THE TIME, AND TALKED TO THE ANCESTORS.

YOU WOULD CATCH HER TALKING OUT LOUD A LOT.

AND WHEN WE'D SAY, "GRANDMA, WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?"

AND SHE'D SAY, "OH, I'M TALKING TO ALBERT," WHICH WAS MY GRANDFATHER, WHO HAD PASSED.

THIS IS MY BROTHER, SILVANO DANIEL CRUZ, YOUNGER BROTHER WHO PASSED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

HIM AND I WERE SUPER CLOSE.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST HEARTBREAK OF OUR FAMILY.

HE DIED AT 35.

AND HE IS WITH ME ALL THE TIME.

HE'S REALLY FUNNY.

AND SO, SOMETIMES I HEAR HIM--I COMMUNICATE WITH HIM ALL THE AND SO, SOMETIMES I HEAR HIM--I COMMUNICATE WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.

AND SOMETIMES I HEAR HIM TELLING JOKES IN THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME, WHICH WAS WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE.

IF WE HAD SOMETHING SERIOUS GOING ON, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WHISPERING SOME KIND OF JOKE IN MY EAR.

HE STILL DOES THAT.

HE ALSO HELPS ME WHEN I WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES THAT HE SUFFERED FROM.

WHETHER IT WAS ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HE SHOWS UP AND SHOWS ME HOW TO GUIDE THEM FROM HIS PERCEPTION.

I WORK IN THE SHADOW.

I WORK IN THE DARK ASPECTS OF A PERSON.

SO, DEATH, MEANING THAT WHICH YOU CAN'T SEE.

I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE HAVE A DIVINE ALIGNMENT.

AND WHEN THEY COME TO SEE ME, AND THEY SAY, "I'M LOST, I'M NOT SURE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO GO," MY MOTIVATION OR MY INTENTION IS TO ALIGN THEM WITH THEIR DIVINE MOVEMENT, THEIR COSMIC MOVEMENT.

- YOU PICK UP NEGATIVE ENERGY JUST IN EVERYDAY LIFE, WALKING AROUND THE WORLD AND DEALING WITH STRESSES OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

IT MEANS A LOT TO HONOR YOUR LOVED ONES, YOUR ANCESTORS.

WE WOULDN'T BE WHO WE ARE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US.

I REALLY TAKE AN HONOR IN SHOWING RESPECT TO THEM AND LEAVING THEM LITTLE GIFTS AND LETTING THEM KNOW WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THEM.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU STOP SPEAKING THEIR NAME, THEN THEY'RE FORGOTTEN.

I ASK TO LIFT ANY HEAVINESS FROM HER HEART.

- WHEN WE FEAR DEATH, WE ACTUALLY HINDER OUR EXISTENCE.

WHEN WE CAN FACE OUR DEATH, WE ACTUALLY LIVE FULLY.

AND SO, MY JOB, MY TEACHINGS, MY COUNSELING SESSIONS, ARE ALL ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR FEARS AND CROSSING THAT LINE.

BECAUSE THE FEAR THAT MOST PEOPLE CARRY IS THE FEAR OF DEATH.

AND SO, WHEN WE CAN FACE THE FEAR OF DEATH, WE CAN FACE ANY FEAR, WHICH MEANS WE CAN FULLY LIVE, AND LIVE WHAT I CALL IN BLISS, AND REALLY FULFILL OUR POTENTIAL, BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE DEATH NIPPING AT OUR ANKLES.

WELL, DEATH IS STILL THERE.

WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF IT.

WE KNOW OUR TIME IS LIMITED.

AND SO, WE MAKE THE BEST OF OUR LIFE.

FOR ME, D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, ISN'T JUST A ONE DAY.

I BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LIFE.

IN THE MAYAN TRADITION, IN MANY TRADITIONS, THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER LIFE.

AND SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEATH, IT'S REALLY THE IDEA OF THE BODY, DROPPING THE BODY, THE PHYSICAL DEATH, BUT THAT THE REST OF US, MANY ASPECTS OF OURSELVES, ARE ETERNAL.

AND SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT DEATH FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, MY FEELING IS THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF, THAT THIS IS JUST A MOMENT IN TIME THAT WE'RE PASSING THROUGH HERE, AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME.

I FULLY BELIEVE THAT WE REINCARNATE, WE COME BACK, WE TRAVEL INTO DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS.

DEATH IS ONE OF THOSE DIMENSIONS.

AND SO, PEOPLE TAKE DEATH VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND I DO, IN THE SENSE THAT WE MOURN THE PERSON, WE MOURN THE LOSS OF THAT PERSON.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CELEBRATE, THE CELEBRATION OF KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE NO RETURNED TO THE ANCESTORS, RETURNED TO THE RESTING PLACE, RETURNED TO A HIGHER DIMENSION, IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT FEAR DEATH IN THE WAY WE DO.

THAT IF WE EMBRACE IT, WE ACTUALLY COULD LIVE HERE AND PREPARE FOR OUR DEATH IN A VERY BEAUTIFUL WAY.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU PUT YOUR HEAD BACK A LITTLE BIT.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, EVER SINCE I WAS YOUNG, AS A TEENAGER.

NOW, IF YOU WANT, CAN YOU HOLD IT WITH BOTH HANDS?

HI.

MY NAME IS NALLELI VAZQUEZ, AND I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER.

I SPECIALIZE IN MATERNITY AND CHILDREN.

THE WAY I STARTED DOING D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS PHOTOGRAPHY KIND OF MIXED WITH MY MATERNITY SESSIONS, WAS BECAUSE I'M ALSO A PERSON THAT'S VERY CRAFTY.

I LIKE TO CREATE BACKGROUNDS.

- I USE FACE AND BODY PAINT.

TODAY, WE'RE USING THE MEHRON FACE PAINT.

I FEEL LIKE WHEN I'M DOING MAKEUP ON MYSELF, THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I REALLY LIKE TO COORDINATE WITH, IS THE COLORS THAT I'M WEARING.

- THAT IS JUST GOING TO GO ON TOP.

- I'VE DONE LOOKS LIKE THIS ON MYSELF BEFORE.

HI, I'M GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ, AND I'M THE SELF-TAUGHT MAKEUP ARTIST.

I STARTED TRYING TO EXPERIMENT WITH MAKEUP WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD.

BUT IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT ON SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT FEATURES.

- THE REPRESENTATION OF MY PHOTOSHOOT TODAY IS, I'M GOING TO BE DOING A PHOTOSHOOT WITH AN EXPECTING MOM IN A SCENERY OF JUNGLE WITH THE AZTEN OUTFIT.

THE REASON WHY I'M DOING THIS IS BECAUSE D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS COMES FROM WAY BACK A LONG TIME AGO, LIKE 3,000 YEARS AGO.

IT'S WHERE THESE TRADITIONS STARTED, WITH AZTECS AND MAYAS.

- EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS WE'RE CELEBRATING THE PAST LIFE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US, IT'S ALSO A CELEBRATION OF LIFE.

I'M BRINGING A NEW HUMAN TO LIFE, AND I THINK IT'S A NICE EXPERIENCE.

I CHOSE TO DO THIS BECAUSE I LIKE EL D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS.

HI, MY NAME IS AZANET CHAVEZ.

I'M FROM BRIGHTON, COLORADO.

IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, THOUGH.

IT IS TIRING, SITTING HERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND THEN HAVING TO STAND FOR ANOTHER COUPLE HOURS.

BUT IT'S WORTH THE EXPERIENCE.

I'M EXPECTING A LITTLE GIRL IN ABOUT A MONTH.

IT'S DEFINITELY AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WOULD TELL ANY PREGNANT WOMAN TO GO THROUGH.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE HAVING YOURSELF GET ALL GLAMMED UP, PAINTED UP, AND HAVING A PHOTOSHOOT.

I THINK, OVERALL, I WAS FINE BECAUSE I'VE DONE MODELING BEFORE, SO I WAS REALLY PREPARED FOR THE PICTURES.

I WAS EXCITED.

IT'S SOMETHING NEW.

I'VE NEVER DONE A FULL-BODY PAINTING BEFORE, SO IT WAS SOMETHING NEW TO EXPERIENCE AND PLAY AROUND WITH.

- THE WAY THAT MEXICO REMEMBERS SOMEBODY IS NOT IN A SAD WAY.

IT'S IN A HAPPY WAY.

I FEEL LIKE WHEN I'M TAKING PICTURES OF A WOMAN THAT'S EXPECTING, SHE'S BRINGING A NEW LIFE INTO THIS WORLD.

- I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BUT AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE, I GO TO LIVE WITH MY GRANDMA IN MEXICO CITY.

THIS CHANGE OF LIFE BROUGHT TO ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER MY BLOOD, MY FAMILY, IN MEXICO, AND ALL THE TRADITIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN THAT AMAZING COUNTRY.

LIVING IN MEXICO STARTING MY FIRST [INDISCERNIBLE] IN THE KITCHEN, IN MY CULINARY PROCESS.

MY FIRST TEACHER WAS MY GRANDMA.

I'M OSCAR PADILLA, AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS BEAUTIFUL RECIPE TO CELEBRATE D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, ENCHILADAS WITH MOLE COLORADITO.

LET ME SHOW YOU TO DO THAT.

OK, I'M READY TO MAKE OUR PICADILLO FOR OUR ENCHILADAS.

THE INGREDIENTS THAT WE NEED TO USE TODAY ARE CHOPPED TOMATOES, GARLIC.

WE HAVE PORK BUTT, THEN TOASTED ALMONDS.

WE HAVE BANANA PLANTAINS, SO SWEET AND DELICIOUS, CHORIZO.

WE HAVE LARD AND RED ONIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE SWEET AND BRING AN AMAZING FLAVOR FOR OUR PICADILLO.

IN D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, I'M HONORING MY GRANDMA BECAUSE SHE SHOWED ME THIS BEAUTIFUL TRADITION.

SHE PUT IN MYSELF ALL THESE AMAZING COMPONENTS AND THINGS TO DO.

THIS TRADITION, TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY, WITH MY FRIENDS, SHE SHOWED ME THE BASIS TO CELEBRATE AND INCORPORATE ALL THESE COMPONENTS AND FOOD TO RECEIVE AND BRING WELCOMING TO YOUR FAMILY AFTER THEY PASS AWAY.

LET'S GO TO CHOP A LITTLE BIT MORE TOMATOES.

IT'S JUST SIMPLE AND EASY.

AND THEN WE START TO MAKE EVERYTHING IN A BEAUTIFUL SAUTE.

I'M IN LOVE WITH COLORADO.

I DISCOVERED THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND ALL THE INFLUENCE THAT THIS NEW CULTURE IS BRINGING TO THE WORLD, TO THE COUNTRY, AND I WANT TO BE PARTICIPATING WITH THOSE.

WE ARE ADDING THE LARD.

AND WHEN THE LARD IS VERY, VERY HOT, WE START TO ADD IN ONIONS AND GARLIC.

WE NEED TO CARAMELIZE THE ONIONS AND THE GARLIC TOGETHER, CHORIZO.

NOW WE NEED TO ROAST THE CHORIZO WITH ONIONS AND THE PORK BUTT.

AND NOW WE NEED TO INCORPORATE OUR TOMATOES.

AFTER OUR TOMATOES AND CHORIZO AND PORK BUTT IS ALREADY COOKED, WE NEED TO ADD OUR BANANAS.

THAT BRINGS A LOT OF SWEET FLAVOR.

AND NOW TOASTED ALMONDS.

AND WE CONDIMENT THIS WITH CHIPOTLE AND ADOBO.

AND WE CONDIMENT WITH SALT.

WE NEED TO COOK THIS FOR 20 TO 25 MINUTES.

D ÍA DE MUERTOS, 1,000 YEARS AGO, THEY START TO CELEBRATE THEIR FAMILY.

AND THAT TRADITION IS COMING TO ACTUALITY, TO THESE YEARS.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT.

AND WE WANT TO SHARE NOT ONLY WITH THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN MEXICO.

WE WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD.

ALL OUR INGREDIENTS ARE COOKED AND INCORPORATED.

AND WE HAVE THE FILLING FOR ENCHILADAS.

FOR THE MOLE, WE ARE USING THIS RECIPE FROM OAXACA.

WE ARE USING DRIED CHILES, LIKE GUAJILLO, CHILE CHILHUACLE, TOMATOES, A COUPLE NUTS, SEEDS, MEXICAN CHOCOLATE, LARD, A COUPLE OF SPICES LIKE CINNAMON, CLOVES, BLACK PEPER.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING COLOR.

NOW LET'S GO TO AND ASSEMBLE OUR ENCHILADAS.

WE HAVE THESE TORTILLAS, SOAKED IN A HOT OIL.

WE HAVE OUR PICADILLO.

LET'S GO TO ROLL IT.

(MUSIC PLAYING) NOW WE TRANSFER TO OUR PLATE WITH OUR MOLE SAUCE.

ALL THESE COMPONENTS FOR THESE TRADITIONS BRING EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR FAMILY FROM THE OTHER SIDE COMES BACK.

AND THEY FOUND AGAIN THEIR FAVORITE DISHES, THEIR FAVORITE DRINKS, THESE AMAZING COLORS.

THIS TRADITION IS TO CELEBRATE THEM, BUT IT'S TO CELEBRATE US TOO.

WE'RE USING RED ONIONS, BEAUTIFUL RADISHES, MICRO CILANTRO, OR CILANTRO LEAVES.

WE FINISH WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CHEESE.

FOR ME, AND FROM MEXICAN CULTURE, FAMILY IS INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT ONLY YOUR--TECHNICALLY, NOT ONLY YOUR FAMILIA, IT'S YOUR FRIENDS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU.

AND THIS CELEBRATION IS TO WELCOME IN ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT, WHEN THEY PASS AWAY, TO COME BACK AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND THE DEATH WITH YOU, WITH YOUR FAMILY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DISH FOR D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS.

I LOVE IT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT SPICY.

IT'S SWEET.

IT'S JUICY BECAUSE THE PICADILLO WITH ALL THESE TOMATOES AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS BRING THIS BEAUTIFUL SWEETNESS FLAVOR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SO SCARED ABOUT DEATH.

"OH MY GOD, NO!"

AT SOME POINT, WE'RE GOING TO DIE.

BUT IN MEXICO, WE CELEBRATE WITH THE DEAD.

BE HAPPY BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, YOU ARE IN COMMUNION AGAIN.

YOU REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY, AND YOU'LL BE WITH THEM AT THAT POINT.

THAT IS SPECIFIC DAYS TO BE WITH THEM AND CELEBRATING WITH THEM, WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS THE MOLE ENCHILADAS.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - MAKING THIS MEDITATION TOGETHER, AND THE GOAL IS TRY TO FEEL MORE RELAXED AND TRY TO BE IN THE PRESENT, AND NOT CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU LEFT BEHIND.

WE HAVE AN AMAZING ACTIVITY AROUND THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TO SUPPORT [INDISCERNIBLE] WELLNESS.

THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS NOW SO POPULAR TRADITION HERE IN DENVER, COLORADO, IN GENERAL, IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE D ÍA DE LOS MUERTOS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TO CONNECT THIS WITH WELLNESS, AND UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER WHAT DOES IT MEAN ABOUT WELLNESS AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OURSELVES TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.

PUTTING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE SPECIAL PEOPLE, AND THIS ACTIVITY HELPS THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] ABOUT THEIR FAMILY, USING THE ART AND CREATE THIS FAMILY TREE.

WITH THE LATINA CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, WE WANTED TO BE FOCUSED MORE ABOUT FAMILY, TRADITIONS, CELEBRATION, MEMORIES, AND OFRENDAS.

THESE ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT ABOUT THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO THINK ABOUT THESE.

HI, MY NAME IS JACKELINE RUIZ.

AND I'M A FACILITATOR AT THE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.

SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL EMOTIONAL BECAUSE THINKING ABOUT DAY FO THE DEAD, SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, "OH, I'M NOT READY THINKING ABOUT MY GRANDMA OR MY GRANDPA OR THINKING ABOUT DEATH, IN GENERAL."

THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE BRING THE ACTIVITY ABOUT FAMILY TREE.

THIS IS NOT MY FAMILY TREE.

IT'S MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY TREE.

I WILL PASS IT TO EVERYBODY.

DON'T WORRY.

YOUR FAMILY IS GOING TO BE THE FAMILY YOU WERE BORN OR THAT CAN BE THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE.

AND THAT'S OK. BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THEY PROBABLY ARE NOT CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILY, OR THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR FAMILY, AND THAT IS OK.

BUT PROBABLY, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FAMILY BECAUSE IT'S YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS, OR IT'S PROFESSOR, OR WHATEVER.

AND THAT'S YOUR FAMILY, TOO.

- WHAT WE TRY TO DO WITH THESE COMMUNITY SETTINGS IS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH RESOURCES.

A LOT OF TIMES, LIFE GETS IN THE WAY, WORK GETS IN THE WAY, AND WE OFTEN FEEL STRESSED OR TIRED OR AT A MOMENT OF CRISIS.

AND SOMETIMES, IN THOSE MOMENTS, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE RESOURCES.

THAT'S IF WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AND WE WERE ISOLATED, AND THERE WERE JUST--THE SOCIAL TIES THAT HELD US TOGETHER GOT WEAKENED OR BROKEN, AND SO THIS IS OUR ATTEMPT WITH THE LCAC TO KIND OF CREATE COMMUNITY WHILE WE TEACH ABOUT WELLNESS, WHILE WE LEARN ABOUT THE TRADITIONS OF DAY OF THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY FROM A STANDPOINT OF RESILIENCE, ESPECIALLY FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE OF BALANCE.

SO, YOUR SOCIAL, YOUR PHYSICAL, YOUR EMOTIONAL, YOUR MENTAL, YOUR SPIRITUAL, HOW ALL OF THOSE, TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, CONTRIBUTES TO WELLNESS AND BUILDS RESILIENCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

- I HAVE MORE COLORS--AH, YOU SPEAK SPANISH.

OK.

IF YOU NEED MORE COLORS ASK ME, I HAVE A LOT HERE.

WE HAVE MANY TRADITIONS IN LATINOAMERICA.

IT'S NOT ONLY DAY OF THE DEAD.

BUT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT TRADITION IS THE WAY THAT YOU CAN CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU CAN CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE WAY THAT WE CAN FEEL MORE HUMAN, MORE EMPATHY.

AND WE SAY, "OH, I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TRADITION IS IMPORTANT."

AND THAT CAN EXPAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

THAT CAN EXPAND YOUR LIFE, IN GENERAL.

AND YOU CAN USE ELEMENTS TO CONNECT PAINTING ELEMENTS, GOOD ELEMENTS TO CONNECT THIS PERSON WITH YOUR LIFE.

AND WE WILL MAKE A PICTURE FOR YOU TODAY.

TRADITIONS ARE NOT ONLY ABOUT, DID YOU HAVE THIS TRADITION IN MEXICO?

IT'S BEAUTIFUL THAT YOU CAN BRING THIS TRADITION TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

FOR EXAMPLE, I'M FROM VENEZUELA.

SO I START WITH THIS TRADITION FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, TO DENVER.

AND I WAS IN ANOTHER ACTIVITY, AND I PARTICIPATED IN DAY OF THE DEAD.

AND NOW IT'S PART OF MY TRADITION, TOO.

WE LEFT OUR COUNTRY 12 YEARS AGO.

WITH THIS CELEBRATION, PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND LEARN, HOW CAN I BRING MEMORIES AND FEEL HAPPINESS, SAFE, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, SAY, "OH, I'M MAKING TODAY CALAVERITAS , FOR EXAMPLE," OR, "I'M MAKING FOOD TO PUT IN MY ALTAR," BECAUSE THIS MEMORY CONNECTS WITH ME, WITH MY GRANDMA, MY GRANDPA, MY UNCLE, ANY MEMBER PASSED AWAY.

OTHER PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE FAMILY THAT PASSED AWAY, PROBABLY THEY HAVE FRIENDS OR THEY HAVE SPECIAL PEOPLE.

DAY OF THE DEAD IS NOT ONLY AROUND FAMILY.

IT'S ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL PEOPLE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - GRACIAS, GRACIAS, GRACIAS TO THE ONES BEFORE US, TO THE ONES AFTER US, THAT THIS HOLIDAY HELPS PASS THE TRADITIONS ON TO OUR NEXT GENERATION.

AND WE CAN FIND JOY IN DEATH AND THERE IS A BALANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH IN US ALL.

(MUSIC PLAYING)