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AWC celebrates Dia De Los Muertos with altars, Catrinas and Catrines competition

The top 3 finishers in the Catrinas competition at Arizona Western College in Yuma on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
Victor Calderón/KAWC
The top 3 finishers in the Catrinas competition at Arizona Western College in Yuma on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

You may be working your way through candy and retail stores have quickly moved on from the spooky season but you may have seen some painted faces and decorations around the desert southwest in the couple days after Halloween.

Students, faculty and staff at Arizona Western College in Yuma remembered deceased loved ones this past week for Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

For AWC, that meant beautiful colorful altars in the cafeteria dedicated to parents, grandparents, relatives and some to celebrities including "Friends" actor Matthew Perry, who died this past week.

One of several altars on display for Dia De Los Muertos 2023 at Arizona Western College in Yuma. Two of the altars included "Friends" actor Matthew Perry, who died last week.
Victor Calderón/KAWC
One of several altars on display for Dia De Los Muertos 2023 at Arizona Western College in Yuma. Two of the altars included "Friends" actor Matthew Perry, who died last week.

AWC also held a Catrinas and Catrines competition. The word "catrina" comes from La Calavera Catrina, or "the elegant skull" who wears an embroidered bonnet with flowers. Males who use the white and black skull makeup are called catrines. If you've seen the Disney film "Coco" you will be familiar with altars and skull figures.

Angelina Rose Montijo wore a royal blue dress with peacock feathers in honor of her late father Rene. She took first place in the Catrinas contest.

"My dad was from Mexicali and his favorite color was blue," Montijo said. "I incorporated a cactus because he worked in the fields and cigarettes as part of my sash because he smoked."

Montijo said she began making her dress at the beginning of the year. With a cardboard poster with pictures of her father in an altar, it added more than 30 pounds to the outfit.

"For me, Dia De Los Muertos means coming together as a family and remembering the good times," she said.

Ana Karen Dozal took second place in the Catrinas contest and Michelle Cruz of San Luis was third.

Cruz said her dress was given to her by her late grandmother. She added a feather headdress with materials purchased in Mexicali.

"(Dia De Los Muertos) is one day of the year that you don't feel sad about your loved ones (who have passed away) because they are with you," she said.

Angela Rose Montijo shows an altar in honor of her late father Rene as part of her catrina outfit at Arizona Western College in Yuma on Nov. 2, 2023.
Victor Calderón/KAWC
Angela Rose Montijo shows an altar in honor of her late father Rene as part of her catrina outfit at Arizona Western College in Yuma on Nov. 2, 2023.

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Victor is originally from West Sacramento, California and has lived in Arizona for more than five years. He began his print journalism career in 2004 following his graduation from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Victor has been a reporter for the following daily newspapers: The Monterey County Herald, The Salinas Californian and the Reno Gazette-Journal, where he covered stories including agriculture, education and Latino community news. Victor has also served as a local editor for Patch, a national news organization with hyperlocal websites, in Carmichael, California in the Sacramento area. He also served as the editor for The New Vision, the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, which includes Yuma and La Paz counties. Victor lives in Somerton. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and following most sports.
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