Edith Villavicencio, owner of Garden of Edith flower shop and Jus’ Tacos in downtown South Orange, has created a community ofrenda in her taco shop for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the Mesoamerican holiday celebrated Nov. 1-2.
On the holiday, people create alters (ofrendas) with photos, candles, flowers and the favorite foods or other items of their deceased loved ones in order to pay their respects and to remember their family members and welcome a return of their spirits.
Villavicencio invites community members to drop off photos of their deceased loved ones at the ofrenda at Jus’ Tacos. (Bring photo copies or copies that you don’t need returned.)
Last year was the first year that Villavicencio set up a community ofrenda and she did it in Spiotta Park but it was difficult to maintain because it got so windy.
“So this year, I thought it was better just to set it up inside,” she said. “Also as part of the tradition, we put food on the ofrenda, but we couldn’t do that when it was outside because it would attract rats or other animals.”
Villavicencio says Just Tacos will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 1, but she’ll take photos on Monday and the ofrenda will stay up a few days.
The community ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos at Jus’ Tacos. (Photo by Laura Griffin)
