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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2003)
page 1A said. "Ever, nething ne. to irst sei duate n Aggie hard w< Aggielife The Battaeion late at io said. “! 'ades thoiifl as president:: Studeii iang whenk he begin®; teral timei r as 1 knot, i and happ )f the organ- rs compose; age in whii ything abo: ing, vik lor’s degffi lal Taiw wrote il madetr f class ng wrote d English.: r a needier : that he ra who I to me it o be here.' aeir warn- erosity lit if never forget y memoriet attending nemberedi 2. Chiang's Thursday at m Chinese enhower i By Diane Smith KRT CAMPUS :ion One arti- es access txas Asm i Young sxas, said ation that iy support dy should FORT WORTH, Texas — A grinning family lays on a sandy beach as a cruise ship drifts by. Sut what appears to be a typical scene from a aribbean getaway is not: These figurines have ikulls instead of faces. Nearby, bakers make tortillas and a figurine f a skeleton pistolero, or gunslinger, stands uard. Like the beachgoers, they have grinning ikulls for heads. The images fill the shelves of La Mariposa ift shop in Dallas with the eerie mix of death ind ceremony that marks the Day of the Dead. Many Mexican immigrants and Mexican- tmericans celebrate the holiday Nov. 1 and 2 ith altars honoring deceased loved ones. The radition is crossing cultural lines, fueled largely iy a growing Hispanic population that is leaving ts imprint on American society. Hispanics are not the only customers buying rightly colored specialty artwork on the nternet or at import stores. Teachers are bring- ng the tradition into classrooms as social stud- es, writing or art lessons. “In America, everybody celebrates every- icdy’s holidays. We can be Irish for a day or cel- brate Cinco de Mayo,” said Roberto Trevino, listorian and assistant director of the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Day of the Dead is primarily associated th customs practiced in southern Mexico that date back centuries to Mesoamerican cultures it existed there before Spanish rule. Other Latin American countries, such as Peru, tave similar festivities and artwork. Through the fears, those traditions merged with the Catholic lommemoration of All Saints Day and All Souls bay on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, respectively. These two days are when Day of the Dead iseodr ,b£ fsrssS'.efct . i . activities take place. “In Mexican culture, there is an attitude toward death that it is something to be accept ed,” Trevino said. “It’s a tradition to make fun of death.” In the Mexican cities of Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas and Patzcuaro, the tradi tions are spectacular for thei^ beauty and eeri ness, experts say. In Patzcuaro, souls are helped across a lake in boats filled with white flowers and candles. Family and friends in the United States and Mexico build altars in their homes to honor the life of someone who has died. The altars are often adorned with portraits, religious icons and colorful decorations. Often, the person’s favorite foods are included. Shopkeepers at area Mexican import stores said interest in the Day of the Dead has slowly increased in the past decade. “A lot of people that buy it are surprised by how strange it is,” said Michael Garza, manager of the Plaza del Sol shop in Fort Worth. “A lot of people buy it because they are trying to get back into their culture.” Many non-Hispanics become smitten with Day of the Dead folk art while visiting Mexico as tourists. The artwork turns up more and more in import stores and in movies such as “Frida.” Singer Lucinda Williams’ album “Essence” has a female skeleton on the back cover. “It’s huge. It’s crossing cultures,” said Candy Hearne, a manager at La Mariposa. “It’s another excuse to celebrate.” At La Mariposa, fancy skeleton ladies called “Katrinas” are lined up along shelves near Mexican Nativity sets. The store stocks sugar skulls and papel picado — festive paper with Day of the Dead images cut into it. Dallas native Kelly Howell recently surveyed pieces at La Mariposa while shopping for a birthday present. Her friend’s birthday had a jiskey DO 40 .85 .85 lives will be saved if you do NOTHING African Americans are at risk for illnesses that can lead to the need for an organ transplant, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Of the patients awaiting a kidney transplant, 35% are African American. Transplant success increases when organs are matched between people of the same racial and ethnic group. You can help by becoming an organ and tissue donor and talking to your family about vour decision. y Come talk to us on November 4th at the Commons Lobby or in Zachry. GET THE FACTS TELL YOUR FAMILY For more information: www.donorworld.com www.organ.org TOLL FREE 1.800.788.8058 http://www.shareyourlife.6rg/africanamerican Org^ n and tissue Donor Card have spoken to m V lantity abouX organ Tvrtsh xo dooaVe Vhe toWovAng-. coded ovaans and tossue \\oTw "ettto-ng organs and tissue. Page 3A • Thursday, October 30, 2003 MD* Jeffery Washington • KRT CAMPUS The La Mariposa gift shop in Dallas offers items for the Day of the Dead. Celebrating the Mexican holiday is becom ing a growing occurrence among Hispanics. The holiday honors the memory of deceased loved ones. Day of the Dead theme, and she planned to sign her gift, “Happy Birthday, Ghoulfriend.” “I like it. I think it’s fun,” she said. Malaise Lindenfeld, owner of Miami-based Inkubus.com, said she has carried Day of the Dead novelties for several years, including molds and meringue used to make sugar skulls. In recent months, the demand has exploded. “I have gotten orders fftMfTapan, Canada and ' ' -O | all over the states,” she said. Much of the interest comes because the holi day takes place near Halloween. But unlike the scariness associated with Halloween, the Day of the Dead is for recogni tion and acceptance of death as a natural part of life, experts and aficionados say. “It’s such a nice deal,” said Ray Grawunder, owner of La Mariposa. “It honors ancestors.” BjH ail B ’C iff 1 25 Yeats in Bryan-College Station! '1978-2003 NALLClVEEA'AT “me hau. " $1.00 U CALL ITS TIL IO P.M. 25<fi BAR DRINKS TIL IO P.M. $1.50 CHUGGERS, $2.50 PITCHERS ALL NIGHT NO COVER WITH A COSTUME! BIG Money contests SCARIEST COSTUME & PSTlL'm& $500 IN CASH PRIZES! ♦ Tickets $8 at the door ♦ 75f BAR DRINKS AND $1.50 LONGNECKS TIL 10 P.M. ♦ Home of the $1.50 CHUGGER AND $2.50 PITCHER ♦ Live in Concert and singing: “Live Forever ” & “Georgia on a Fast Train” COMING SOON: Friday, Nov. 7th: The Emotions Saturday, Nov. 8th: Gary Stewart The Texas Hall of Fame encourages you to drink responsibly and always designate a driver. Free soft drinks to designated drivers over 21.