Honoring the dead with Elgin library’s ofrenda involves elements of life

Every piece of Gail Borden Public Library’s traditional ofrenda for Día de los Muertos, a Latin American holiday that honors the dead, has a symbolic meaning.

Flowers or food, usually the deceased’s favorites, represent the earth, said Flor Chavez, the Elgin library’s Hispanic services cultural engagement coordinator who oversees the ofrenda’s creation.

Candles represent fire or light to guide souls on their journey, Chavez said. Water is offered to quench a soul’s thirst, she said. Papel picado, pieces of colored paper with intricate designs, move when the wind blows, representing a soul returning to visit, she said.

There are many different types of ofrendas, but every one has items that symbolize the four elements of life: earth, fire, water and air.

And, of course, the photos.

“We put the photos of the persons we are honoring,” Chavez said. This year the library received 378 photos, including pets, to place on the ofrenda, she said. Last year, there were 270.

“It’s important that those elements are not missing,” she said. “We wanted to make a traditional ofrenda. I think it’s what has connected with our visitors.”

The community ofrenda is on display in the Grove Room, located on the downtown library’s second floor. The grand opening drew 980 people, Chavez said, including Reyna Torres Mendivil, consulate general of Mexico in Chicago, who cut the ribbon for the display.

Dia de los Muertos is a tradition in many Latin American countries, Chavez said.

“It’s a way to honor the person who has passed away,” she said.

The day also is a way for families to share the life stories of their loved ones with other generations, she said.

“It’s a celebration of the life they had in this world and to remember so they aren’t forgotten,” Chavez said. “It’s something that connects families.”

Dia de los Muertos has become more popular in recent years, she said. “Before, people didn’t understand the significance. We didn’t explain what it was. What helped a lot was the (Disney/Pixar) movie ‘Coco,’’’ she said. The 2017 animated movie is about a boy who accidentally crosses into the Land of the Dead on Dia de los Muertos.

The day falls on Nov. 1. It can be confused with Halloween but has a different meaning, Chavez said. Halloween is about ghosts, being scared and horror, she said. Dia de los Muertos is to remember with love those we’ve lost and unite our families, she said.

“We realized people were confused about the tradition so we wanted to share what it is,” she said. “It’s a day of love and reunion.”

Loss is something everyone can understand, she said. Visitors often get emotional and need a moment to reflect, she said of the exhibit, which started with a small display in 2018.

Chavez gets help from the community to create the ofrenda, which takes three days to put together. Library patrons Lucy Lopez and Yesenia Mendoza are two key volunteers who brought in many of the needed elements, she said.

Gail Borden’s South Elgin location has a smaller ofrenda. It’s the first time staff has set one up there and want to see how it’s received, Chavez said.

Last year, library staff worked with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra on its Dia de Los Muertos concert at The Hemmens Cultural Center and created an ofrenda that also featured local artists. It was a huge success, and the library is participating again this year, she said.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at elginsympohony.org or by calling the Hemmens at 847-888-4000.

“We invited artists from different disciplines. We had sculptors, painters, muralists, writers and singers,” Chavez said.

The library also held programs in English and Spanish to teach people how to make things like papel picado, she said.

There were a lot of people who came so they could learn how to make an ofrenda at home, Chavez said. What struck her, she said, was how people from other backgrounds came to the programs.

“They were very interested in learning about the culture,” she said. “This is a collaboration. We are here for others to contribute. We want to be part of the community. We want this to unite all of us.”

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News.