One of the beauties of attending Kingswood Oxford is the ability to be who you are and share what makes you unique with the whole community. At KO, there are students from all walks of life and it is what makes our community so special. As we head into the winter, it is important that we take note of a number of cultural celebrations that occurred including KO’s Diwali and Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Diwali, the celebration of light, is celebrated during the Hindu month of Kartik, which typically occurs between mid-October and mid-November. KO held a Diwali celebration during Community Time complete with food and a henna artist. There were also parent representatives that worked the table and dressed in traditional Hindu attire.
Freshman Riya Sekeran spoke on how Diwali is typically celebrated in her culture with an emphasis on different sources of light. “A common way people celebrate is with fireworks, sparklers, and lighting candles,” Riya said. “It’s a very fun way to celebrate around the holiday.” The idea of Diwali hones in on the themes of “light over dark” and “goodness over evil,” two ideas that we as a community should hold onto in our daily lives.
Another cultural celebration that was celebrated at KO this fall was Dia de los Muertos, which translates to the Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated in early November. On Dia de los Muertos, Mexicans traditionally honor their deceased loved ones by setting up an ofrenda or “offering.” This year, KO set up its very own ofrenda.
Freshman and junior sisters Julia and Sofia Atanasio-Villa were key in the planning and execution of KO’s ofrenda. The ofrenda had framed photos of past KO alumni and beloved community members, Mexican figures, candles, and flowers. Julia and Sofia passed out traditional Mexican candy to visitors that came to the ofrenda and wished deceased loved ones well.
One of the important things to remember about the holiday is that contradictory to popular belief, it is a happy celebration, not a sad one. “It’s not a day of mourning, but a day of remembrance,” Sofia reminded. “Remembering those who have passed away and having hope that their spirit will come back and visit you on the special day is what’s most important.”
As we look ahead to the winter and other celebrations near and dear to our hearts, we are truly lucky to have been able to celebrate Diwali and Dia de los Muertos as a community. Thank you to the students, faculty, and parents who were able to make this possible. We can’t wait to continue to celebrate and honor our cultures!
