Oakland. While some will be coming off a sugar high and reveling in the halloween spirit of the season others will be hosting another… celebration?
An annual ritual of honoring the dead will be performed in North Oakland on Nov 1.
“It’s about remembering our forefathers, our ancestors, and for me there’s actually something spiritual about that,” stated local event founder K. Ruby Blume. “It’s also really connected to the seasons … there’s this sense (that) nature is dying. Traditionally, there’s this sensibility that the veil is thin and people can cross over.”
After a march to Dover Park, a ceremony to call out the dead will be performed. An alter will be built for participants to offer flowers, candles and photos of deceased loved ones.
“It’s very serious, personal and sacred” stated co-organizer Cate Freyer.
Blume was inspired to start a local ritual following 25 years of attending San Francisco’s Dia de los Muertos celebration. Blume now sees the San Francisco event as “a sort of Burning Man… media-heavy event”.
Blume is hoping for a more intimate milieu in the Oakland location, therefore recording equipment is discouraged. Event start time will be around 5:30 at either the Driver or McGregor parks, the march will head to Dover Park and the ritual and altar building should be around sunset.