SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For some families, remembering loved ones who have passed is about more than looking back. It’s about celebrating the memories, traditions and connections that live on through generations.
That was the overarching message behind Talking Cursive Brewing Company’s third annual Día de los Muertos brunch, held Sunday, Nov. 1. The festive event welcomed visitors for a morning of food, drinks and remembrance while introducing Central New York residents to the traditions behind the Mexican holiday.
A Day of Remembrance
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated on both Nov. 1 and 2. The multi-day holiday honors family members, friends, and even pets who have passed, through celebrations that focus on remembering their lives, instead of mourning their loss.
Guests at Talking Cursive were welcomed with festive brunch entrees like Carnitas Eggs Benedict and Huevos Rancheros, specialty cocktails, and a community altar, also known as an ofrenda. Those who attended were encouraged to bring photographs or small personal items representing the loved ones they wanted to honor.
For Alexis Colton, marketing and events manager at Talking Cursive, bringing the celebration to Central New York was something personal.
“I’m not a huge Halloween person, but in my household, we like to decorate and celebrate Día de los Muertos,” Colton said.
Colton grew up in South Texas, where she was introduced to the holiday and its unique cultural traditions. After moving away, she wanted to bring a piece of that experience to the Syracuse community.
She introduced the idea at Talking Cursive in hopes of creating an opportunity for people in the area to experience a different kind of celebration and highlight those who they have lost.
Now in its third year, the brunch has become an annual event.
“People have come to expect that it’s gonna be our November brunch,” Colton said. “It’s nice that we truly are starting it as a tradition.”
Living On Through the Altar
A major part of the celebration is the community ofrenda. Traditionally, families create their own altars using marigolds, candles, photographs, favorite foods and drinks, along with other meaningful objects that represent the people they have lost.
At Talking Cursive, the altar gave guests a chance to share their own memories and honor the people and pets who remain important parts of their lives.
“He was my best friend, and he was always there when my son was growing up,” said Jim Delpha, an attendee who brought a photo of his late dog that was a part of his family for about 12 years.
After Dallas passed away from cancer, Delpha said the memories they shared never went away.
“He kind of lives inside of us still,” said Delpha.
His wife, Mary Delpha, also attended on Sunday.
She brought several photographs of her own loved ones to add to the altar. This year’s celebration was especially meaningful because Nov. 1 was also her mother’s birthday.
For Mary, the holiday offers a way to remember her mother and other loved ones while celebrating the lives they lived.
“To have an event like this in Syracuse, to recognize that there’s a lot more out there in this world that we do not have the opportunity to appreciate,” Mary said. “It gives us an opportunity to celebrate something we normally wouldn’t as a festive occasion.”
Examining the Roots behind the Holiday
While the holiday is widely associated with Mexican culture, Día de los Muertos is also celebrated in parts of Central and South America. Its traditions have Indigenous roots, along with Spanish and Catholic influences.
“It’s a great way for people in our area to get to experience a holiday that is so popular and enriched with color and culture and love and celebration,” Colton said. “I hope it’s just a nice learning experience to ingrain yourself into a culture that isn’t yours.”
Bringing those traditions to Central New York was about more than hosting another themed brunch for Colton. It’s about creating a space where people can connect with a different culture while finding common ground through remembering and celebrating the people they love.
Memories to last lifetimes
“Our spirits, our friends, families, and pets who are in our lives, their spirits live on through us,” said Delpha.
At Talking Cursive, their annual celebration brunch serves as a reminder that even though loved ones may no longer be physically present, the impact they left behind continues to bring people together.