Day of the Dead activities set at libraries

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) and Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts (JFFA) are collaborating to celebrate the Day of the Dead — el Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos in Spanish — a traditional holiday observed throughout Mexico and parts of the United States, which honors and remembers friends and family members who have passed on.

This holiday is a unifying national practice in Mexico based on Indigenous traditions combined with European influences.

Watch an all-ages video tutorial at nols.org/DDLM by Seattle-based artist Amaranta Ibarra-Sandys, who was born and raised in Mexico City. Ibarra-Sandys provides instruction on how to create dioramas, and shares el Día de los Muertos traditions.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 17, pick up a Take & Make: Day of the Dead tin box diorama kit at a local NOLS branch. Use the diorama to create a home altar or return it to be displayed in a community ofrenda.

Residents of Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay can drop off their completed dioramas at their local library by Monday, Oct. 24. Community ofrendas will be displayed Oct. 25-Nov. 7.

To participate in the Port Angeles community ofrenda, drop off a diorama in the JFFA dropbox at Chase Bank, 101 W. Front St., Port Angeles, by Sunday, Oct. 23.

For more information about this and other events and services happening at your library, visit nols.org, call 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.