Dia de los Muertos in London.

Sahira Barajas

Review Assignment

      I read on TimeOut magazine that the Wellcome Collection was going to have a Day of the Dead event and immediately I decided I was going. The event took place on November 5th between noon and five in the evening. I sincerely did not expect the event to be that big but once I arrived to the Wellcome Collection, the line was enormous. I waited an hour before I actually went into the building. While I was waiting in line I looked around to see what kind of people were so interested in the event to wait in line for that long. To begin with, there isn’t many Mexicans in London, therefore, there wasn’t many Mexicans waiting in line so most people were English. 

     As the pessimist that I am with cultural encounters, I had made up my mind while waiting in line that the event was going to be exotifying Mexican culture. Right when I walked through the door there were folkloric dancers dancing to the music of the mariachi and everyone cheering, clapping and taking pictures. I seemed like everyone had eyes of amazement that the Day of the Dead was celebrated with music, dance and delicious colorful food. 

     The Day of the Dead is a day of honor, remembrance and celebration of the dead. The event did have traditional activities such as decorating a sugar skull, sugar skull face paintings, alters to remember those who have passed away with offerings such as food, drinks, pictures, notes, flowers and candles. 

     Despite my negative thoughts while in line, I did appreciate the fact that such notable event had been recreated thousand of miles away from its homeland in Mexico. Seeing the sugar skulls, face paintings and above all the altars made me miss home so much. Therefore, the effects the event had on me was much more sentimental compared to everyone else’s upbeat reactions to the vibrant colors, sugar skulls and lively music of the mariachi. 

     Aspects of theatre were present in the performance by the mariachi and the folkloric dancers because those performances perform cultural identity as well as the obvious, a dance and song routine. The performers have to change wardrobe to become part of the mariachi or a folkloric dancer, giving an understanding to the public that they are performers performing a short story for the audience’s enjoyment or appreciation. 

     I definitely saw a real performance at this event, not only because the performers were in traditional mariachi and folkloric clothing but because the Day of the Dead is not a traditional celebration in English culture, therefore, the performers were also performing a Mexican cultural identity. 

     Even though I did not enjoy the event as much as I would have liked to, I am glad I attended the event to experience my own culture in a completely different environment. Due to the lack of Mexican culture and the different vibe to Mexican events that do take place, I definitely would not like to live here in London for more than the four months I am already here for. Experiencing the Day of the Dead in London is most definitely part of my own historical record of my time in the UK.