Day of the Dead celebrations at Clemson

Friends and family members will have an opportunity to remember and celebrate loved ones who have passed away when the South Carolina Botanical Garden holds its second annual Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, at the garden. Admission is free. Shuttle buses will be available to bring people from parking areas to the celebration. The South Carolina Botanical Garden is located at 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson. The Day of the Dead Festival is a traditional Latin American holiday when people celebrate and honor loved ones who have died. Clemson held its first Day of the Dead celebration in 2018. “We had such a tremendous response last year, we wanted to hold this event again to help create awareness of Mexican/Latino culture, as well as provide a welcoming environment for the Upstate’s Mexican/Latino population in which they can continue cherishing their traditions,” said Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte, a Clemson associate professor of mechanical engineering. Martinez-Duarte stressed the holiday is not exclusive to Mexico and that several different Latino cultures also celebrate Día de los Muertos. He noted this is not a sad holiday but one of celebration. Richly decorated altars or “ofrendas” in the houses and at gravesites of the departed are common Day of the Dead traditions. The altars are decorated with flowers and pictures of the departed, their favorite items and foods, and other objects such as sugar skulls, skeletons, incense and candles.