Vivid displays of marigold flowers, twinkling lights, and pan de muerto lined the staircase, catching the eyes of students as they passed between classes.
These decorations are a part of the Ofrenda de Día de los Muertos, an annual tradition to celebrate and honor loved ones and pets who have passed away. The celebration, which showcases one of Mexico’s oldest and most important cultural traditions, typically lasts seven days.
For 21 years, Upper School Spanish teacher Mrs. Vanessa Zamudio-Lara’s ofrenda has transformed spaces of the Upper School with vibrant colors and memorials, uniting the community through remembrance and tradition.
“The altar is rich with symbolism,” said Mrs. Zamudio-Lara. “Each element carries its own meaningful purpose.Natural elements such as flowers, food and plants represent life and abundance, while personal items—favorite objects and foods of the deceased—create a tangible connection to those we’ve lost.”
Mrs. Zamudio-Lara added that although those loved ones have passed physically, people’s bond with them never disappears.
“I have created this ofrenda at Kinkaid with multiple purposes in mind,” Mrs. Zamudio-Lara said. “It honors the memory of each community member who shares photographs of their loved ones, allowing us to celebrate their lives together.”
This year, the arrangement took several days to create and included participation from students, staff and families.
“The process of creating the altar is quite elaborate, typically taking two to three days—especially this year, given its impressive size,” Mrs. Zamudio-Lara said.
Students in the Spanish II Honors and AP Spanish classes visited the altar, asking questions and learning about the meaning of each photograph and symbol displayed.
“It made me have a sense of gratitude because we got to honor all of the past members of the Kinkaid community, and we learned about their impacts on our school,” said sophomore Alex Magid.
