LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Dia de los Muertos is really a celebration of the continuation of life.
Different cultures know it as All Souls Day. Some call it the day of the dead. Some families we spoke to said, although language, music, and food may be different, the focus remains the same: keeping the memory of the deceased and their names alive.
“It’s a tradition and I grew up with it,” says Prino Gallo Jr ..
Monday was a gloomy – but joyful – day for this Filipino family. Today, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Las Vegas, they celebrated the life of one of their own who died of Parkinson’s disease in 2019.
“We prepare something to eat… like Filipino favorites, like rice cakes. We’re going to the cemetery and have a little party, ”said Gallo.
It is a traditional and cultural gathering for many families on November 1st and 2nd with music, food and colorful decorations.
For some, the celebration is very personal.
“I miss him,” said Cruzinha D’Silva, celebrating her late husband. “It’s been about five to six years since he died. I was very dependent on him. “
D’Silva was at her husband’s grave. She celebrates his life by honoring her culture while helping others.
“In India, where I come from, which we usually do on the Day of the Dead, we have a lot of beggars. We call them and feed them on behalf of our loved ones, ”said D’Silva.
Many families tell us that the pandemic has forced smaller gatherings at home, while others say that every day is a celebration of life.
“We have a lot of funny memories of him for being such a prankster,” said Gallo.
