Day of the Dead Ofrendas at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Sun, Nov 05
|Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Join us for a tour of the Day of the Dead Ofrendas at the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine.
Time & Location
Nov 05, 2023, 12:00 PM – Nov 30, 2023, 12:00 PM
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA
About the event
On view until the end of November
The ofrendas will be on view until the end of November. To plan your visit to the Cathedral, visit their website for more information https://www.stjohndivine.org/visit
November 5th 2023 - Presentation
Join us for a presentation on the Ofrendas for the Day of the Dead at the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, followed by a workshop.
The event will take place immediately after the Sunday Mass.
- 10:30 am: Holy Eucharist
- 12:00 pm: Learn about the beautiful meaning behind ofrendas and the Day of the Dead! Create your own skull cards and buttons in our workshop.
Juan Aguirre will discuss the history of the Day of the Dead and the significance of the ofrendas. Sebastián Gámez will showcase the ofrendas he has created.
The public is cordially invited to place pictures or offerings on the community ofrenda. The ofrendas created by Sebastián Gámez, the Cathedral's visiting artist, will be displayed throughout November.
Pan de Muerto, Champurrado, and Hot Chocolate will be served at 12:00 pm
Entrance to the Mano a Mano presentation and workshop is free.
About the presenters
Sebastián Gámez is a Mexican-American, New York City-based Fashion Designer and Artist. Originally from Los Angeles, he relocated to NYC at the end of 2001. With over twenty years in the fashion industry, he has designed for some of the largest US retailers.
In 2013, Sebastián left corporate fashion and launched his design consulting business. This has allowed him the flexibility to pursue other creative endeavors, including theatrical costume design, art direction, and art installations such as the ofrendas for el Día de Muertos he designed and constructed and are currently on exhibit at the Cathedral of St John the Divine throughout the month of November.
Juan Aguirre is the Executive Director of Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders. He teaches and leads workshops, lecture demonstrations, and talks on Mexican culture and traditions.
About the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and is chartered as a house of prayer for all people and a unifying center of intellectual light and leadership. It serves the many diverse people of the Diocese, City, Nation, and World through an array of liturgical, cultural, and civic events; pastoral, educational, and community outreach activities; and maintains the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.
About the Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead has been one of Mexico's most important festivals since pre-Hispanic times. It is a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of the dead on their annual visit home. Cempasúchil (marigold) flowers, burning copal incense, fresh pan de muertos bread, candles, sugar skulls, photographs, and mementos of the departed adorn special altars. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated over an entire week with the preparation of altars, foods, dance, music, and special offerings for people who have died.
Learn more about the history of the Day of the Dead and answers to some frequently asked questions.
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