Ofrendas honoring community members inside the Rinconcito de Esperanza. Some of the altar offerings include marigolds, candles, personal items, and framed photographs.
Photos: Madison Vrazel
The aroma of incense and cempasúchils (marigolds) hit my nose as I entered the doors of the Rinconcito de Esperanza in Westside San Antonio. The center had their Día de los Muertos event on November 1. The Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a beautiful tradition in Mexican culture, celebrating the return of the deceased for a short period of time by honoring them with offerings. The ofrendas (offerings) at the Rinconcito de Esperanza honor community members that have passed through this tradition. Offerings that fill each altar included pictures of deceased loved ones, personal items, religious figures such as the Virgin Mary, gifts of bread and other foods, papel picado, marigolds and other flowers, candles, butterflies, and sugar skulls.
Dezarey Perez's ofrenda.
Photo: Madison Vrzel
The ofrendas filled several rooms in the Rinconcito and a few more were placed in a building nearby. Seeing pictures of the deceased community members of all ages made me quite emotional. Family members came to view their family’s altar and discussed the lives and memories of their loved ones with each other. One of the ofrenda designers, Dezarey Perez, invited visitors to add the names of their own deceased loved ones to her ofrenda. As the evening progressed, the ofrenda was filled with tealights and small notes that listed the names of the deceased. Combining the loved ones of visitors with her own created a beautiful menagerie of tributes to Perez’s ofrenda.
The community ofrenda outside the Rinconcito.
Photo: Madison Vrazel
In addition to the ofrendas for the community members, the Rinconcito placed a large community ofrenda across the street. Anyone could add their own pictures, candles, and flowers to this ofrenda. I brought a candle as an offering and lit it to honor the members of the community as well as my own family members who have passed.
The ofrendas will be on display at the Rinconcito de Esperanza until November 8.
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