Portland Families Honor Loved Ones at Annual Dia De Los Muertos Event

Honoring the Past at Finley-Sunset Hills

“It’s all about remembering; Remembering the past,” said Manuel Ramos, director of El Ballet Folklorico, capturing the central heartbeat of a tradition now taking root across the Pacific Northwest.

Sunday marked the first day of Día De Los Muertos, as Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary and Sunset Hills Park hosted its fourth annual celebration in Portland, Oregon, according to local reporting by KPTV. The gathering brought traditional music, vibrant dancing, an ofrenda, and family activities to the grounds, drawing crowds of all ages to honor loved ones who have passed away.

Building the Ofrenda and Welcoming Spirits

Celebrated across Mexico, parts of Central America, and the United States, Día De Los Muertos serves as a bridge between the living and those who have gone before them. Central to the observance is the construction of altars, or ofrendas, adorned with photographs, personal belongings, letters, and the favorite foods and drinks of deceased family members.

Ramos, who directed the traditional dancers at Sunday’s event, emphasized that the holiday offers a profound sense of connection. He noted that November 1 marks the traditional belief that spirits arrive on Earth to communicate with their living relatives. Reflecting on his own history, Ramos shared that his childhood was spent in Mexico before he immigrated to the United States at age five, recalling early years spent visiting family gravesites.

“It is the altars that actually invite them over and especially today,” Ramos said, as reported by KPTV. “Today is November 1, so they believe that the spirits have arrived already and they’re here on Earth communicating with them.”

For Kjersti Barrios, who works at Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary and Sunset Hills Memorial Park, this year’s observance involves personal grief and cherished remembrance. Barrios spoke about honoring her father, who died in an accident when she was six years old, and her grandmother, who passed away in 2020.

Personal touches populated the memorial space. Barrios placed Paydays out for her grandmother and a Mountain Dew for her grandfather, keeping their specific preferences alive through shared family memories. Despite the inherent sadness of losing family members, Barrios noted that the holiday provides an essential framework to stay connected with cultural roots and celebrate happy moments of the past.