Reps. García and Grijalva Honor the Dead with Día de Los Muertos Resolution and Community Altars
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) introduced a resolution commemorating All Souls’ Day, also known in Latino culture as Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.
This holiday, celebrated throughout the US, Mexico and parts of Latin America, honors the memories of friends, family, and loved ones who have passed away. The tradition of Día de los Muertos has grown in popularity across the United States, showcasing the vast influence of Mexican culture on American society.
“Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life and death. We honor our loved ones who have passed away as we cherish and carry their memory with us every day. From Chicago to Tucson and everywhere in between, it is one of the most important traditions in the Mexican and Mexican American community,” said Rep. García. “With this resolution, we honor our culture and the contributions of our communities to this country.”
“This resolution celebrates an enduring tradition that traces back to Indigenous cultures prior to the foundation of this nation,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Día de los Muertos honors the universal experience of life and death, and for the people of Southern Arizona, this holiday brings together communities to mourn and reflect on the lives and legacies of those who departed before us. I’m grateful to reintroduce this resolution with Rep. García to commemorate our rich Latino traditions and heritage, and remember our loved ones from Arizona to Illinois and beyond.”
Initially introduced in 2019, the Día de los Muertos resolution was created to honor the Annual All Souls’ Procession in Tucson. Each year, Reps. García and Grijalva create ofrendas or altarsto honor and remember lost loved ones and family. These altars are decorated with pictures of loved ones, lighted candles, cempasúchil or marigold flowers, pan de muerto or traditional Mexican bread and favorite items from those who passed away.
Since he arrived in Congress in 2019, Rep. García has honored this holiday with an open house of a Dia de los Muertosofrenda set in his Washington, D.C. office. Each year, Members of Congress, congressional staff, and constituents visit the ofrenda and place pictures of their departed loved ones.
Rep. Grijalva observed this multi-day holiday with a Día de los Muertos community ofrenda at the Tucson El Pueblo Community Center. The community ofrenda will be on display for several weeks, offering a chance for Arizonans to come together and remember the departed.
The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Greg Casar (D-TX), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jim Costa (D-CA), Luis Correa (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes (D-D.C), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (D-GA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Troy Carter (D-LA), and Darren Soto (D-FL).
The text of the resolution can be foundhere.
Social media of Rep. García’s ofrenda and members who visited can be found here.
Additional photos can be found here.
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