Austin housing co-op puts up giant ofrenda for Día de Muertos, invites community to add to it

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Photos of passed family members, friends, pets and celebrities decorate a community ofrenda, or altar, set up at the corner of West 23rd and Nueces Streets. It was set up by the New Guild Housing Cooperative for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated at the end of October and the beginning of November each year. The holiday is of Mexican origin, though it’s now celebrated across many countries and cultures.

The holiday is a time dedicated to honoring people who have died, through the creation of ofrendas decorated with photos of the dead, flowers, candles, incense, food, and other personal reminders of those who have passed.

New Guild, in Austin’s West Campus neighborhood, set up the giant community altar at the corner of West 23rd and Nueces. According to an Instagram post from the co-op, anyone can submit a photo to be placed on the altar.

“Hey y’all we are once again hosting a community altar in the New Guild front yard,” the Instagram caption said in part. “Everyone is welcome, either send us a picture or upload to the folder.”

The co-op set up a Google Drive for people to easily submit photos to be placed on the altar. The post noted that photos submitted in past years will be placed on the altar again this year.

The last day to view co-op’s ofrenda is Nov. 3.

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