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

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Photos of family members, friends, pets and deceased celebrities adorn the community ofrenda, or altar, set up at the corner of West 23rd and Nueces streets. It was created before New Cooperative Housing Society For Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated at the end of October and beginning of November every year. The holiday is of Mexican origin, although it is now celebrated in many countries and cultures.

Eid is a time set aside to honor people who have died, by creating ofrendas decorated with images of the dead, flowers, candles, incense, food, and other personal reminders of those who have died.

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

“Hello everyone, we are once again hosting a community altar in the front yard of the New Guild,” the Instagram caption said in part. “Everyone is welcome, either send us a photo or upload it to the folder.”

The cooperative established a Google Drive So people can easily send photos to put on the altar. The publication indicated that the images presented in previous years will be placed on the altar again this year.

The last day to view cooperative offers is November 3.