Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Listen Live!
Call the Studio: (803) 576-WUSC (9872)
WUSC FM

WUSC Celebrates The Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, or All Souls Day is a holiday dedicated to honoring the dead with joy and respect. The holiday, which is celebrated throughout multiple European and Latin American countries, is most commonly associated with Mexican traditions, but it is so much more than costumes and parades. Before western colonization, traditions and rituals to honor the dead were common in Aztec and other Mesoamerican cultures. Today it is believed that between the first and second of November, the border of the spirit world and the real world opens, giving the spirits of the dead an opportunity to visit home and see their families. Meanwhile, friends and families alike decorate ofrendas, a type of altar, with pictures of their ancestors and offerings for their late friends and families. Ofrendas and grave sites are lined with marigolds, a native flower to Mexico, believed to help souls find their way back home. On November 2, the public celebrates the souls of the dead with parades, festivals and other festivities.

The unique holiday is celebrated differently all over the world with various traditions and beliefs surrounding the Day of the Dead. In Columbia, SC, you can find various Day of the Dead events put on by local stores and restaurants, however the most notable is at the Columbia Art Museum on November 11. The event is organized by Palmetto Luna Arts and includes many activities and opportunities to embrace the tradition.


Photograph courtesy of The Columbia Museum of Art 


Amelia Feist

Hi there! I'm Amelia, and I am a broadcast journalism major with minors in music industry studies and hospitality/tourism. I'm originally from Denver, Colorado, so I bring a granola and country western vibe to my show, The DJenerates. I love interviewing new and up-and-coming artists and am constantly searching for new sounds. You can listen to me and my cohosts on Fridays at 2pm! See you around :)


Similar Posts

Today's Lineup

12-8am On Air
8-9am Get With the Program
9-10am the wave
10-11am On Air
11am-12pm The Out There Inn
12-1pm Play It As It Lays
1-2pm Sounds Beyond Reason
2-3pm The DJenerates
3-4pm The Downside
4-5pm Pix-E Hollow
5-6pm On Air
6-7pm The Boogie Zone
7-8pm Paranoia and Rage
8-9pm Eclectic Selections
9-10pm On Air
10pm-12am The Nocturnals
Donate Get Involved