Day of the Dead Celebration: Remembrance of Ancestors & Scholar Jack Forbes, NOVEMBER 2, 2013, DAVIS, CALIFORNIA

For Immediate Release

Day of the Dead Celebration: Remembrance of Ancestors & Scholar Jack Forbes

Davis, California--It is a few months before the Day of the Dead Celebration, and plans are underway. The Davis Cemetery District and Arboretum is collaborating with Professor Melissa Moreno, as well as the Forbes family, to organize the Day of the Dead Celebration on the historic grounds of the Davis Cemetery on Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. The Davis Cemetery is located at 820 Pole Line Road, at the corner of E. 8th Street in Davis.

Save the date and be part of this historic celebration as they bring danzantes, Native drummers, speakers, poets, and music honoring all ancestors, including internationally recognized Native Studies Scholar Jack Forbes. The celebration starts at 11:30 am with an altar viewing and pan de muertos (bread of the dead). It is followed at noon by Indigenous danzantes, Kalpulli Tlayolotl, and then a multi-lingual blessing given in Nahuatl, Spanish, and English by Dr. Jennie Luna, Forbes’ last doctoral student, and then Native drumming. A welcome will be given by Joseph Finkleman, Community Outreach Director of the Davis Cemetery District, followed by words regarding the remembrance of Jack Forbes by Melissa Johnson and Melissa Moreno, a sharing of Forbes’ poetry by Carolyn Forbes, Native flute music by Dr. Rose Borunda and traditional Mexican music by Mariachi Tonantzin, concluding with a special blessing and viewing of Forbes’ grave site. This celebration is one of the few Meso-American indigenous influenced rituals, honoring the circle of life on mother earth. This celebration is part of an effort to create community, a sense of belonging, and global awareness of cultural richness in our multicultural society. Donations of marigold flowers and volunteers to do local, state, and national outreach would be appreciated. To donate, volunteer, or get on the mailing list for up-to-date information, please email mmoreno@yccd.edu. For more information on this event please contact Professor Moreno, and/or Community Outreach Director Finkleman at cemetery@dcn.org.

11:30am Altar viewing & Pan de Muertos 12:00 noon
    Mexica Danza Kalpuli Tlayolotl lead by Adelita Sirena
    Blessing by Jenny Luna in Nahuatl, Spanish & English
     Native Drumming
    Welcoming by Joseph Finkleman
    Remembrance of Ancestors & Jack Forbes by Melissa Johnson & Melissa Moreno
    Forbes Poetry by Carolyn Forbes
    Poetry
    Native Flute Music by Rose Borunda 1:30pm Mariachi Tramontin 2:30pm Native Drumming 3:00pm Special Blessings at Forbes' grave site

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Melissa M. Moreno