UCOP will celebrate the cultural holiday Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with a variety of activities. Throughout Mexico, this holiday is celebrated by family and friends gathering to pray for and remember those who have died. It coincides with the Western Christian All Souls Day observance. Read more about Day of the Dead.

UCOP’s Office of the General Counsel created an ofrenda in 2016.

Ofrenda in Franklin lobby: Honor those you have lost

One of the main traditions connected with this holiday is building private altars called ofrendas. Ofrendas honor those who have died by displaying the departed’s pictures or other mementos and decorating the altar. The OGC Diversity Committee and the Latino Staff Assembly (LaSA) will display a large Dia de los Muertos ofrenda in the Franklin lobby Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. Please consider bringing a picture or memento of a deceased friend or relative (or a pet) to add to the altar. If you bring a photo, consider adding a note explaining who the person was. See examples of ofrendas.

Decorate sugar skulls

LaSA and the UCOP Crafts Group will be offering another Day of the Dead tradition, sugar skull decorating, on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in Franklin room 5320. Please RSVP ahead of time through the LaSA website in order to participate. LaSA will also be showing Dia de los Muertos documentary videos during this event.

Oakland Museum discount for all UC employees Nov. 1 – 3 (includes Dia de los Muertos exhibit)

The Oakland Museum (OMCA) is graciously giving all UC employees a significant discount on Nov. 1 – 3. On those three days, admission will be reduced from the usual $15.95 to just $6 per person and will include access to the museum’s annual Dia de los Muertos exhibit. Show your UC badge at the ticket booth to get the discount. Museum hours during these dates are as follows:

• Wednesday, Nov. 1 and Thursday, Nov. 2: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 3: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission to OMCA is always free for children ages 8 and under and just $6.95 for those ages 9 to 17. Every Friday night after 5 p.m., admission is free for everyone under 18 years of age and all adult tickets are just $7.50. Friday nights at OMCA also include live music, 30 food trucks, and bars selling wine, beer and cocktails. Many families bring picnics to the museum’s spacious outdoor garden which has a safe enclosed area for children to play and does not require purchasing a ticket to enter. Find out more about Friday nights at OMCA.

Questions about these events? Please contact Dan.Scannell@ucop.edu.

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