"If it wasn't for those Rangers at Lake Mead, I would be one of those skeletons in your ofrenda". – Life in Death participant, 2011.
This year's ofrenda was to honor those who have lost their lives on public lands due to the elements. The ofrenda was planned, built, and staffed by Lake Mead NRA staff as a part of the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership (SNAP).
On November 1 – 2, 2011, because of All Souls or All Saints Day, the Winchester Cultural Center of the Clark County Park and Recreation Department in Las Vegas, Nevada hosts their annual Life in Death Festival, also known as the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos. The SNAP staff works with the Winchester Cultural Center, to submit the paperwork about the ofrenda – who is it in memory of, what size it will be, timeframe of access to the park, etc. There is involvement from many federal agency staff and volunteers on different levels. Some people are able to attend the festival and staff the ofrenda, speak to the participants in Spanish and English and to explain answer questions about the ofrenda. There is also staff and volunteers that help to make the pan de los muertos or bread of the dead, which is one of the traditional items that is displayed on the ofrenda for the dead to enjoy. The staff also made paper flowers and sugar skulls. There are marigolds or cempasuchils that are also a part of the ofrenda, the smell of these flowers is very strong and said to help the souls find their way to the ofrenda. There are other traditional elements that are sometimes included, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe or Virgin Mary.
This year the ofrenda included the Virgen de Guadalupe, with Joshua Trees and Mojave Desert plants. The ofrenda also included La Llorona ("The Weeping Woman") which is a widespread legend in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Central America. Although several variations exist, in our ofrenda this traditional legend is used to show the importance of drinking water in effort to survive the desert.
The festival is a celebration of life and death, to honor those that have died, while also celebrate with those still living. This is the fourth year that the Lake Mead NRA staff as a part of the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership - SNAP has participated in this festival. There were 6,000 participants in this year's festival in the past there has been even up to 15,000 over two days. This is not a Halloween celebration, but rather a way to honor life in death.
11/4/2011
