Events for Dia de los Muertos began last weekend and are continuing throughout this week. At San Fernando Recreational Park, residents set up altars to their loved ones in unique ways. There was an altar placed in the bed of a truck and another created in the trunk of a car.
In addition to attending community events, many opt to quietly honor those who’ve passed by building an altar at home. Marleen Martinez Aparicio (photo top right) set up a family altar in her home that will stay up for several days that includes her parents and grandparents.
Artist Elvia Aguirre created an altar (bottom left) using many traditional harvest elements with an abundance of marigolds-cempasuchil, seeds, fruit and vegetables in honor of “Tia Chucha,” the inspirational force for the cultural center in Sylmar. Arleta resident, Norma Ramirez found a shady spot of green grass to set up a public outdoor altar (bottom right) to honor her mother, that she reconstructed in her home.