The Latinx UC Santa Barbara Network Association held Día de los Muertos Celebración de la Gente 2025, or “Day of the Dead Celebration of the People,” on Nov. 5. The event was sponsored by the Sigma Alpha Zeta multicultural sorority, Sigma Lambda Beta international fraternity, Associated Students and the Associated Students Finance and Business Committee.
Cultural food and drinks were served to attendees to enjoy while traditional dancers performed a dance routine. Elijah Obando / Daily Nexus
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican cultural holiday where people come together to celebrate loved ones who have passed away. The event marked Latinx UC Santa Barbara Network Association’s (L.U.N.A.) 10th year hosting the celebration, and was attended by roughly 50 people.
L.U.N.A. was created in 2014 as an organization for staff and faculty, and is not limited to Latine people. They began hosting the Día de los Muertos celebration the following year. Staff members of L.U.N.A., who chose to remain anonymous, expressed that the event acts as a way to show people a glimpse of Mexican culture while providing a safe space for students, staff and faculty. They hope to offer attendees a sense of community and belonging.
“If people don’t have the space to commemorate their loved ones by going home, they have space here to do that all together and enjoy free homemade food,” one staff member said.
Ofrendas, or altars and offerings made to honor and remember deceased loved ones, were set up inside the Student Resource Building.
Ofrendas, or altars and offerings made to honor and remember deceased loved ones, were set up inside the Student Resource Building. Elijah Obando / Daily Nexus
The event began with a land acknowledgement for the Chumash people from Mia Lopez, whose ancestors were a part of several village sites that the UCSB campus sits upon.
Cultural food and drinks were served to attendees to enjoy while traditional dancers performed a dance routine. Sigma Lambda Beta and Sigma Alpha Zeta members volunteered to help by checking attendees in and handing out food.
Although hosted mainly for the Latine community, the event welcomed students from all backgrounds. Elijah Obando / Daily Nexus
Although hosted mainly for the Latine community, the event welcomed students from all backgrounds.
“I think it’s amazing that everyone can join in, even if they’re not specifically from the culture and appreciate it themselves,” second-year biology major Aleccia Garrido said.
First-year biology major Carla Baranda Arias heard about the event through a friend who sent her the flyer. She expressed that she was really glad she went with her friends.
“Me and my family celebrate Día de los Muertos together, so it’s really important to honor our loved ones,” Arias said. “Even though Día de los Muertos was on the first and the second of November, I like that we’re still having the night to honor those who passed.”
A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the Nov. 13 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
