Día de Muertos: Honoring Those Who Have Saved Lives Through Donation

The Meaning of Día de Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a vibrant Mexican celebration that brings together culture, tradition and community and has become more and more popular in the United States every year. It honors loved ones who have passed away and celebrates their lives through color, music and altar offerings. Rather than treating death solely as an ending, this tradition recognizes it as a natural part of the cycle of life.

Each year on November 1 and 2, Mexican and other Latino communities across Colorado create altars adorned with marigolds, photographs of their loved ones, as well as their favorite foods. These altars symbolically welcome the spirits of the departed in a heartfelt act of remembrance.

How to Build an Altar and the Meaning of Offerings

The altar, often called an ofrenda, is at the heart of Día de Muertos celebrations in Mexico and among communities that observe the tradition in Colorado. Families choose a special place to display their offerings. Some build three-tiered altars representing the heavens, the earth and the underworld, although altar designs and traditions vary.

Each element on the altar carries deep meaning: water quenches the spirit’s thirst, salt symbolizes purification, candles light the way and marigold, known in Spanish as cempasúchil, are believed to guide the spirits with their vivid color and fragrance. Families also include photos, papel picado (decorative cut-paper banners), sugar skulls and their loved ones’ favorite dishes. Traditional foods such as pan de muerto, a bread prepared for the holiday, and tamales may also be included.

In many traditions, November 1 honors children who have died, affectionaly known as angelitos or “little angels,” while November 2 honors adults.

Donor Alliance and Día de Muertos in Colorado

This year, Donor Alliance is joining Colorado’s Día de Muertos celebrations to honor loved ones, recognize organ and tissue donors and connect with the community through remembrance.

An Evening of Remembrance at Auraria Campus

On October 8, Donor Alliance sponsored La Iluminación del Altar at the Tivoli Quad on Auraria Campus in collaboration with the Campus and Catrinas en Mi Ciudad. The gathering brought the community together around a monumental altar created by artists Rodrigo Pahua Medina and Eduardo Medina Jaén of Jaén Cartonería.

Hosted by Yesmani Gómez, the evening featured music by the MSU Denver Student Mariachi Los Correcaminos and professional singer Miguel Rangel, remarks from the artists and community partners and moments of reflection. Guests shared food, enjoyed the installation and had the very special opportunity to place candles with the names of their loved ones at the altar.

A particular meaningful moment came when Hilda Chávez, a kidney transplant recipient and founder of Guerrera Latinas, shared her story. Although she doesn’t know her donor’s family, she carries gratitude for the gift every day. Her reflection highlighted the connection between honoring those who have died and recognizing the lives they have made possible through donation.

For Donor Alliance, supporting this celebration reflects a commitment to honoring donors, supporting their families and keeping their legacies alive.

Join Us November 6 in the Art District on Santa Fe

The celebration continues Friday, November 6, 2026, when donor Alliance participates in the Art District on Santa Fe’s Día de Muertos celebration, as part of its First Friday Art Walk. We invite you to join us to remember loved ones, celebrate their lives and honor our community’s donor heroes.

Visit the Donor Alliance tent at 725 Santa Fe Drive, where you can write a loved one’s name or a personal message on a remembrance card to be placed on participating community altars. A memorial slideshow will also honor those who have passed, including organ and tissue donors whose generosity has given others a second chance at life.

Día de Muertos reminds us that love and remembrance transcend time. As we honor those who have passed, we can also choose to give others the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. Check  Yes to register as a donor at your local DMV office or online at donatelifecolorado.org.

Remembering a life can also inspire us to give life.