By Gabrielle Traylor/reporter

SE Campus visitors passed around fake skulls and artifacts from ancient Mexican traditions when Mercedes Olivera, Dallas Morning News columnist, presented Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, Nov. 1.

Explaining the differences in Halloween, an American tradition, and Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition, Olivera said Halloween was created by people who wanted to express spirituality while Dia de los Muertos was created to remember family members who had died.

One culture actually uses real corpses of their dead relatives, but that is not the tradition, she said.

“With the Day of the Dead, we would go out to the grave sites and feast,” she said.

Olivera said certain foods, usually favorites of the one being honored, are made during the celebration.

This 500-year old-tradition was created by the Aztecs and has been brought to America by immigrants.

“With the population increasing with Spanish Americans, we may be replacing Halloween soon,” she said laughing.

She also showed pictures of past Dia de los Muertos celebrations.