Raleigh Day of the Dead celebrations brought out the local Latino community on behalf of doing good.
The Day of the Dead, Nov. 1, is a day to celebrate your departed relatives. Celebrations vary by Latin country, but for many, this means cleaning the family members’ grave sites or taking the deceased relative his favorite food and drink.
On Friday, the El Pueblo community had a party during which people celebrated by decorating sugar sculls, dancing, and eating food. While the party allowed folks to gather together, it also encouraged safe sex and conducted free HIV tests.
On Saturday, a Day of the Dead road race raised money for the Brentwood Boys and Girls Club, which is 85% Hispanic.
Centro restaurant then held a small memorial service to honor migrant farm workers who died as they worked the fields of North Carolina.
Although a different focus for each celebration, both events included decorated faces and the important alter decorated with fruits and flowers, topped by the most holy virgin Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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A photo of Marta Brewer, a chef at Centro, is displayed on the alter at Centro. Brewer died of cancer.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Centro Owner Angela Salamanga reads the obit of a farm worker killed while working in North Carolina. Salamanga also ran the Day of the Dead race.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Jeison Guerrero, a volunteer at El Pueblo, enjoys the party.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Diego Hernandez places a photo on the Day of the Dead alter at El Pueblo.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Nancy Petty, the minister at Pullen Memorial Baptist church, spoke at the ceremony to honor North Carolina farm workers.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Wearing a tutu, a runner from the Day of Dead race waits for friends Saturday morning at the door of Centro restaurant in downtown Raleigh.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Bacillio Castro, right, talks to a reporter about what he witnessed as a farm worker in North Carolina.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Estevan Hernandez, 2, studies the Day of the Dead alter at the El Pueblo event. The black and white photo toward the upper right is Estevan's grandmother.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Participants demonstrate Aztec dances wearing native costumes with feather headdresses.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Viviana Jimenez, 15, of Fuquay-Varina, dresses up for El Pueblo's Day of the Dead party.
Karen Tam / Raleigh Public Record
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Condoms were offered at Friday night's Day of the Dead celebration at the El Pueblo offices. Free HIV tests were also offered.
