The staff of Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant celebrated Dia de los Muertos on Saturday, Nov. 3, in an effort to bring a new tradition to Murfreesboro and share one of the biggest Latin American holidays with its customers.
What began as an Aztec tradition has spread across all of Latin America; generally celebrated every Nov. 2, families and friends remember their lost loved ones every year on Dia de los Muertos, translated “Day of the Dead.”
“We try to blend in with the dead to make them feel welcome,” said Blue Agave owner Armando Lopez of the elaborate face paint his team wore. “We believe the dead come to eat with us this day.”
A colorful altar in the center of the restaurant is another big component of Dia de los Muertos. People set up these alters in remembrance of a specific relative or friend who has passed away.
“At the alter, we put food and drink that they like, whatever they like to eat,” Lopez said. “The photo of the guy at our alter is one of our server’s brothers, who died about five years ago.”
The sempasúchil, or marigold, is a big part of the alter and holiday as well, “the scent attracts the dead,” Lopez said, and in addition to being used to honor the deceased, the marigold is believed to have numerous medicinal properties.
- The sempasúchil
“Fruit on the alter means the dead died this past year,” Lopez continued.
“It’s not a time to party. It’s very religious, very deep,” he said of the holiday.
In Mexico, loved ones not only decorate cemeteries, but sometimes actually spend the night in the graveyard where their deceased loved one stays.
Many remember their lost youngsters the day prior to Dia de los Muertos, Nov. 1, known as Día de los Inocentes, for those under 18, the “innocents”, who have died, with Nov. 2 set aside for honoring deceased adults.
Jose Vera, the artist who created the murals at Blue Agave, was on hand at the restaurant to paint the staff’s faces, with great detail and care.
Lopez says he intends for the team at Blue Agave to make an annual tradition of Dia de los Muertos and continue sharing the culture and this holiday that means so much to the people of Mexico and other Central American countries with the people of Murfreesboro.
For more on Blue Agave, visit blueagavetn.com
