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STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE | October 25, 2015

By Staten Island Advance
October 25, 2015 at 4:45 PM, updated October 25, 2015 at 7:23 PM

Day of the Dead Festival in West Brighton draws hundreds

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.

— Hundreds of people attended the all-day El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) Festival at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta School in West Brighton on Sunday.

The free festival, now in its 23rd year, began in the morning with the construction and decoration of two ofrendas (altars) to honor the dead, and continued into the afternoon with traditional live music and dancing, and craft workshops led by folk artists.

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday during which family and friends gather to pray for and remember deceased loved ones. Visitors at Sunday’s festival were asked to bring photos of deceased loved ones and objects that they held dear.

Read more …

 

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE | October 19, 2015

By Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com
on October 19, 2015 at 10:52 AM

What looks like Halloween but isn’t about scaring — just caring?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Black-eyed sugar skulls and dancing papier mâché skeletons are now so commonplace in American culture, it’s easy to forget these symbols have nothing to do with our Halloween.

Nah, El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) isn’t about scaring — it’s about caring.

“It is a joyful Mexican tradition — a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of deceased love ones who, it is believed, return to visit the living,” says Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, who is marking more than two decades as founding executive director of the free “Staten Island El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) Festival.”

Her cultural celebration has traveled the North Shore over the last two decades, from the old Cromwell Center to Snug Harbor. This year’s day-long fiesta takes place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta School.

“On this day, Mexican families and the larger Staten Island community come together to remember departed loved ones and celebrate their lives, with flowers, art, altars, live music and dances,” Bohórquez-Geisler says.

The fun begins in the morning with the construction and decoration of two ofrendas (altars) to honor the dead. Visitors are asked to bring photos of deceased loved ones, objects that once belonged to them, as well as their favorite drink, food or flower. A second ofrenda will be constructed displaying regional traditions from the Mexican state of Morelos.

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Staten Island Advance | October 24, 2014

Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com By Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com
on October 24, 2014 at 9:24 AM, updated October 24, 2014 at 1:04
PM

9 great things to do on Staten Island this weekend

AWE El Dia De Los Muertos
El Dia de los Muertos ofrenda on Staten Island. (Photo by Irma Bohorquez-Geisler)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The black-eyed skulls and dancing skeletons have become so commonplace in American pop culture, it’s easy to forget these symbols have nothing to do with our sugar-coma-inducing Halloween traditions.

No.  El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) isn’t about scaring — it’s about caring.

“It is a joyful Mexican tradition — a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of deceased love ones who, it is believed, return to visit the living,” says Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, the local art photographer who presents her 22nd anniversary “Day of the Dead Festival” from noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, 285 Clove Rd., West Brighton.

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“Con Edison supports organizations and programs that contribute to arts and culture in a variety of ways. Day of the Dead is an educational event that not only highlights diversity, but celebrates the growing Mexican community on Staten Island,” says Katia Gordon, Con Edison’s Staten Island public affairs manager, seen here with event founder Irma Bohórquez-Geisler.

“On this day, Mexican families and the larger Staten Island community come together,” Bohórquez-Geisler says, “to remember departed loved ones and celebrate their lives, with flowers, art, altars, live music and dances.”

Read more …

Staten Island Advance | October 18, 2012

awe day of the dead festival

We were featured in the Staten Island Advance, were editor Rob Bailey discuss about the Day of the Dead celebration in Staten Island.

Staten Island’s 20th Annual Day of the Dead isn’t about scaring – it’s about caring

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Those dancing skeletons and black-eyed skulls have become so ubiquitous in American pop culture, it’s easy to forget these symbols have nothing to do with our horrifying, sugar-coma-inducing Halloween traditions.
No. El Dia de los Meurtos (The Day of the Dead) isn’t about scaring — it’s about caring.

“It is a joyful Mexican tradition — a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of deceased love ones who, it is believed, return to visit the living,” says Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, who is marking two decades as founding executive director of Staten Island’s “El Día de los Muertos Celebration,” which returns Sunday to Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Livingston.

Read more.

 

Staten Island Advance | October 29, 2007

Staten Island Advance featured The Day of the Dead celebration by Tevah Platt.

Mexican community marks Day of the Dead

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Cromwell Center was vividly alive yesterday as hundreds celebrated the Day of the Dead, the traditional Mexican event known in Spanish as Dia de los Muertos.

Altars set up in the Tompkinsville gym were laden with typical offerings for the deceased — traditional breads, skull-shaped candies, skeletal clay sculptures and bright marigolds.

“At home we have a smaller version of this altar, set up with little candles and pictures of the grandparents,” said Mario Centeno of Rosebank, who explained the significance of the offerings to his children, aged 6 and 7. “On the altar we put things the person used to like when they were alive — like bread, beer or tequila or their favorite drink — because we believe they come back that night to do the things they enjoyed in their waking life.”

Continue reading Staten Island Advance | October 29, 2007 →