SAN DIEGO — Dia De Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is coming up Nov. 1-2, but celebrations happened this weekend across San Diego County.
The streets of Barrio Logan were packed with festivities Sunday as the community celebrated Dia De Muertos. Beautiful altars lined the streets, honoring loved ones who have passed but also inviting them back during this special time of the year.
Jenny Martinez is one of many who celebrate every year. She wrote the name of her son on a popsicle stick and added it to an ofrenda at the Barrio Logan event.
"It's a day to remember the passing of the people that we love and remembering the good things," Martinez said.
She saw a white butterfly near the ofrenda, a signal to her that her son is there with her.
Culture was all around, from traditional Mexican food and lowriders to tributes and marigolds on every corner.
"The idea is that when we make these altars for our loved ones, they come back and visit us from the other world in which they are," Molly Porth Cabrera said.
ViaInternational is a non-profit that offers music lessons to kids. The group was performing at the event and had a music-themed altar.
"This altar is honoring Andres Vega, who is one of the legends of Son Jacho, traditional folk music from Veracruz," Cabraera said. "He passed away this year and so this altar is honoring him as well as some of the family members of our teaching artists."
Another organization with an altar was the San Diego Museum of Art. They devoted their altar to the Mexican artists displayed in their collection.
Deidre Guevara with the museum said their altar is divided in three tiers, sharing the three levels of the universe.
"The notion was like the Gods must be like looking at us all the time so they live in an upper floor called the Supra world," Guevara said.
She said the second floor is the world we are living right now and the third floor is called the Infra World.
"The Infra World, where you would go the minute that you would die," Guevara said.
Guevara said an arch of marigolds signals the dead to come from the Infra World to visit you. Food, water and treats are put out for them to enjoy as well.
"When they come they're going to see the arch, they're going to know it's for them, and then they're going to spend some time having a big feast," Guevara said. "Afterwards, they're going back to the Infra World and every year is a way of remembering them."
The intention isn't to mourn lost loved ones, but honor them and rejoice at this time every year.
"Just celebrating their life, and you know, we'll see them on the other side," Martinez said.