Celebrating Día de Muertos: A Community's Resilient Remembrance in Minneapolis

Mon Nov 10 2025 23:19:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Minneapolis celebrated Día de Muertos with vibrant altars, community unity, and a defiance against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement. This year's festivities marked a blend of cultural resilience and joyful remembrance of the departed.

Over 100 participants gathered at El Colegio High School in Minneapolis to celebrate Día de Muertos, led by traditional Aztec dancers. This year's observance took on profound significance amidst rising fears of immigration enforcement. Organizers and participants embraced the festival as a vital expression of community pride, honoring ancestors while facing contemporary challenges. The celebration featured altars adorned with candles and offerings, reflecting both personal and societal losses, including those affected by violence and immigration struggles.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — More than 100 people, guided by Aztec dancers, entered El Colegio High School this past Saturday, ushered through an arch of vibrant paper flowers as part of the Día de Muertos celebrations.

“It’s ... a way of greeting our ancestors into our homes, back into our lives, even if they’re not here physically, but spiritually,” shared Daniela Rosales, a senior at the bilingual school. “It’s a way of uniting the community and making them feel safe.”

This year, the significance of these traditional observances is amplified in U.S. Latino communities, particularly as immigration enforcement intensifies, a trend that is notably felt in Minnesota.

While some feared that heightened deportation concerns would overshadow the public festivities, many turned out enthusiastically, citing that the rituals foster a necessary sense of resilience and community pride.

“We decided we can’t give in,” expressed Justin Ek, one of the festival founders in Mankato, emphasizing that cultural celebrations are crucial for nurturing community spirit.

The festivities were also a means of remembrance for those who have died, including recent losses within the community. Numerous altars were set up, celebrating those loved ones who have passed, following an age-old tradition of honoring the dead.

Ek noted, “It’s our way to honor what we lost.” The festivities became a shared space for reflection, not only using joyous memories but also for grieving recent losses.

“We made sure fear didn’t dictate our celebrations,” shared emcee Luis Alberto Orozco, who embraced positive interactions among the attendees. His reflections attested to the potential dominance of fears surrounding immigration enforcement, particularly given recent events in Chicago.

In the face of such challenges, the Day of the Dead festivities remained vibrant and empowered, showcasing the enduring spirit of the community as attendees honored their cultural roots amidst a changing socio-political landscape.

With altars adorned with offerings, candles, and photographs, the celebration reflected the complexities of grief and joy, respecting the dead while celebrating life. “When the community witnesses our dances, they feel rejuvenated. They experience our love,” said Susana De Leon, an Aztec dancer dedicated to preserving the spirit of the event.