USU Museum of Anthropology: Dia de los

Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology marks Dia de los Muertos — or Day of the Dead — Saturday, Oct. 27, as part of its Saturdays at the Museum series.

Guests are invited to attend and learn how the Aztecs were the first to celebrate a festival similar to Day of the Dead. A look ahead to today shows how modern people celebrate the holiday.

A costume contest will be held at the museum at 1 p.m. with categories for adults and children.  Also, throughout the day, patrons can decorate candy skulls or make paper skeletons.

“Although Dia de los Muertos is near Halloween, the two holidays are not the same,” said Diana Azevedo, a museum assistant. “Day of the Dead celebrates the ancestors and family who have passed on. It is a time to remember and honor them, more like Memorial Day than Halloween.”

In addition to the Saturdays at the Museum activity series, community members and USU students alike can visit the museum during its standard operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Funding for Saturday events is provided by a grant from the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online.

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.

For more information about museum events, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum website.

The Museum of Anthropology is part of the Anthropology Program at USU in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Related links:

• USU Anthropology Program
• USU Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology
• USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Source: Museum of Anthropology

Contact: USU Museum of Anthropology, (435) 797-7545, anthro.museum@usu.edu