Day of the Dead grows in popularity

Dr. Mac Williams began celebrating the Day of the Dead with Coker College students soon after he joined the campus. Friday evening, November 2, was the 2012 Día de los Muertos. This is part of the email invitation Don Mac sent out to the Coker Community:

 

"Friday CCCC(Coker College Culture Club) is holding it's annual Day of the Dead Observance.  It's open to the public, so please feel free to bring families, neighbors, and friends.  All are welcome to create an altar for anyone who has passed away, even celebrities and pets.  It's a really peaceful and beautiful time, and I hope all can make it. "

Don Mac has a way of reaching his students and one proof of that was the larger crowd that came out the celebration this past Friday night. There were students, faculty, staff, former students, and community residents -- all joining in the celebration of memory.  I hesitate to describe the event as "Cool" because maybe I am not the right generation for that description but there was something just cool as this concept resonated with such a wide variety of people. And, the event has taken on a life in the Coker community -- pretty much part of our November culture.

I grew up in a culture where November 2 was called All Soul's Day but by the time I was growing up, the Holy Day was on the First -- which was All Saint's.  The rest of the souls really did not get that much attention. Don Mac has found a way to bridge many of the natural barriers of our culture and provide a lot of people with the comfort of shared memory. Don Mac, Muchas Gracias.

Top Photo == Grffin Sullivan built a memory of his grandfathers for the Coker College Day of the Dead Observance.

Next Photo -- Don Mac and many others in discussion of the altars of memories on display.

Bottom Photo -- participants in the Day of the Dead Coker College observance getting creative with the skull art.