Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
The City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation team will partner with The Crystal Chronicles Company to host their first ever Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday, Nov. 1, bringing a tradition rooted in indigenous Mexican cultures and shaped by centuries of history to Yelm City Park.
The holiday, known as Day of the Dead in English, honors deceased loved ones through flowers, altars, family gatherings and food, and aims to celebrate the lives of the deceased, share memories and maintain connections with those who came before them.
Día de los Muertos has roots in indigenous civilizations in Mexico, including the Aztecs, who held traditions honoring the dead.
After Spanish colonization in the 16th century, indigenous practices blended with Catholic observances, particularly All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which are celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Today, the holiday is associated especially with Mexican culture, though it is celebrated in other Latin American countries and communities around the globe.
“This is the first ever Día de los Muertos event that we have done in the parks and rec department. I’m not aware of any others that have happened but I’m not going to say that this is the absolute first time it’s been done in Yelm,” Roy said, on Monday, Oct. 26. “The parks and rec team is partnering with (Chelsea Weimer, with The Crystal Chronicles Company), who comes from that culture and is helping to make sure the space is filled with connection and reflection.”
According to Roy, the community ofrenda, or altar, will open for the community at 2 p.m. on the Centennial Stage at Yelm City Park. Community members are invited and encouraged to bring a photo, small memento or a meaningful item to add to the ofrenda in honor of someone special in their life who has passed away.
Additionally, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a flower crown making activity for attendees to partake in.
Then, at 5 p.m., live classical Hispanic music will be played and performed at Yelm City Park for those at the park to enjoy.
The ofrenda will remain open for community members to visit and pay their respects at through 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
“I think it’s really important to embrace other cultures in our community,” Roy said. “It’s so easy to stay where you’re most comfortable and only celebrate the things you’ve celebrated your whole life. I think having the opportunity to learn about another culture and learn about their festivals, celebrations and traditions is such an eye-opening experience. I think having these opportunities for our community and everyone in it makes us a more well-rounded place to be.”
Roy added that providing spaces and activities for different cultural events that community members celebrate is important, and can lead to community members feeling more included and seen.
“I’d encourage everyone to come out and see something new, and celebrate with us,” Roy said.
Weimer, with The Crystal Chronicles Company, told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Oct. 26, that right now is an incredibly divisive time in the United States. As someone who has lived in Yelm for five years, and as a Mexican-Salvadorian American, Weimer has longed for a way to bring the community together. She said Día de los Muertos is a dedicated time of remembrance, reflection and celebration, and described the holiday as special and sacred.
“I appreciate our town so much,” she said. “This is the first time in my adult life that I’ve felt at home. But at the same time, I feel a sense of resistance and lack of diversity. We are all in this world together. We are all on our own pursuits to happiness, and in the end we all die. Death shouldn’t be played out as such a scary thing when it’s a natural process.”
Additionally, Weimer said Día de los Muertos is a way in which you can bring the spirit of your deceased loved ones close.
Weimer said she will utilize her culture and her artistic ability she’s acquired as a longtime artist, gardener and vendor to create the community ofrenda. Despite being a self-described “big introvert,” she’s thrilled to play a role in bringing the community she loves together.
As a local business owner, Weimer said the opportunity to team up with the City of Yelm to bring forward the Día de los Muertos event means everything to her.
“You see, I am currently a stage-four cancer patient,” she said. “But more than that, I am an artist, mother, wife, nature enthusiast — the list goes on. My business is based off of my love of the natural world, antiques and the obscure. I’ve found that I’d like to know myself even more and that includes my culture. And I want to share this with not just my family but my community. Pairing this with my desire to be a proactive member with purpose, things just kind of aligned for this to happen.”
According to Weimer, her business, The Crystal Chronicles Company, is well known for setting up scenes and displays — something she has a passion for.
“I have all the set-up gear in the world, including some traditional pieces from Mexico that I’ll be bringing for display,” Weimer said. “Donating my time to start something so special like this is the very least I could do. I also have a deep appreciation for honoring our ancestors, past family members and friends, pets — anyone who meant anything. I find myself heavily inspired by the Victorian era and my culture, both of which read death differently.”
