November 1 and 2 is when Spanish speaking countries from all around the world celebrate Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. At EHS the Spanish Club takes a day out of the following week to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, and performs for all of the Spanish classes throughout the day.

Halloween is similar to the Day of the Dead because of all the dressing up and celebrating but they are not one and the same. Dia de los Muertos are the days that the living can celebrate the dead. Family members and friends of the non-living take these days to pray and remember the loved ones that have passed throughout the years. During these days, people dress up with different face paint and colorful clothing and line up near the cemeteries for celebration.

This year the celebration will be going on during the day on Nov. 7. Every year the performances are different. With music and singing and dancing, Spanish Club members are there to help entertain students and teach them about what the Day of the Dead is really about.

The main person running the show is EHS Spanish teacher Mr. Don Mendoza. Mr. Mendoza gets help from the other Spanish teaching staff but according to Ms. Jean Kennedy, Mendoza is a real genius when it comes to the Day of the Dead show.

Ms. Kennedy says that her favorite part about the Day of the Dead is being able to choreograph all the dances. Lilley’s favorite part is being able to spend the whole day with the Spanish Club and bonding.

Ms. Kennedy helped choreograph different skits in the past like “The Great Gatsby” skit done by Gage Armstrong and Isabella Lilley.

This year the dances will consist of ballet, a mix of merengue and hip hop and a Latin style dance. The main purpose for Spanish Club performing for students is to expose the school to Spanish culture, Lilley said.

The show is split up into different acts that change scenes from cheery and fun to dark and eerie. It starts off with students dressed as babies and then they gradually get older to represent the different stages of life and death. Instead of grieving of the loved ones that have passed, people that celebrate dead are celebrating their lives, not grieving their death, Kennedy explained.

All day Spanish classes at EHS will be getting out of class to see the performances and help celebrate alongside the Spanish Club for all the fun activities and dancing they have planned.