Seedling for Change in Society and Environment
in collaboration with
Seedling for Change in History, temporary residents working in the agricultural sector, Mahtay Cafe & Lounge, Niagara Jazz Festival, Salsa Soul Productions, and Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre
Invitation
Week of the Dead Celebration
November 1-5
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Mahtay Cafe & Lounge, 241 St. Paul St., Saint Catharines, ON
Everyone welcome
Sharing in the custom of honouring ancestors in contemporary Mexican culture, Seedling for Change in Society and Environment and collaborators invite Niagara’s diverse communities to celebrate together Day of the Dead at Mahtay Cafe & Lounge November 1-5.
The Day of the Dead altar or “installation” is a unique piece of Mexico’s cultural heritage. The altar is both an object for display and visual enjoyment and a space where people make an ofrenda (offering) in celebration of life and loving relationships. Varying in size, a multi-level installation always exhibits fruits, flowers, corn, salt, candles, toys, sugar skulls, painted masks, skeletons, Catrinas or female skeletons in fancy costume, and photos of the deceased whose lives are celebrated (photos can be replaced by mementos).
The installation, in all its variations, and accompanying celebration, has evolved over many centuries. Altars predate the arrival of Christopher Columbus and Spanish and Portuguese explorers to the Americas. Indigenous celebrations in what is modern day Mexico marked the completion of the annual cycle of cultivation of maize, the country’s predominant food crop. The celebration resonated in the minds of European settlers with some of their own celebrations, some of which were already product of the mixture of cultural traditions on the Iberian Peninsula.
Although Day of the Dead is considered representative of modern Mexico, peoples all over the world have joyfully embraced it as an object and site that transcend national borders and cultures. The practice is in fact in UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity (originally proclaimed in the 2003, it was included in 2008).
By virtue of its close ties to seasonal change and the harvest, and focus on remembering, memory, and social relations the Day of the Dead altar and celebration transcends formal affiliation to any one particular culture.
In 2016 SCS&E introduced this celebration in Niagara with the collaboration of the Welland Museum.
Everyone is welcome!
The Twilight Jazz Series was founded in 2011 by Niagara Jazz artists Juliet Dunn and Peter Shea. It is a monthly jazz series featuring the best in local and touring jazz artists and ensembles. The series features all genres of jazz and is now entering its 7th year and has featured artists such as John Sherwood, Barbra Lica, Kevin Breit, Heavyweights Brass Band, Ashley St. Pierre, Kevin Turcotte, Mike Murley and more…The TD Niagara Jazz Festival was co-created by Juliet Dunn and Peter Shea in 2014 and is now entering its 5th season. Recently named the ‘Best New Festival in Ontario’ the TD NJF celebrates and presents live jazz and events at various locations throughout the Niagara Region. (Summer festival: Last 2 weekends of July). Vineyards, Parks, Concert Halls and more. Free and Ticketed events for all ages. #LiveLoveJazz
DPLU Music, the TD Niagara Jazz Festival and Mahtay Café and Lounge present the FIRST concert in the Twilight Jazz Series.
Don’t miss our November feature:
Latin Jazz featuring
The Caribbean Club Trio
The Caribbean Club Trio is comprised of Zach Preston, Laura Varela, and Will Preston.
Zach Preston is the guitarist and director of the group, he has studied music between Canada, Latin America and Spain.
Originally from Bogota Colombia, singer and percussionist Laura Varela has studied between Colombia, Canada and Cuba! Zach and Laura live between Niagara, Canada and the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, in Santa Marta.
Will Preston plays the electric bass. He has studied between Canada and Cuba, and is currently completing his degree at Humber College in Toronto.
This music will take you on a tropical journey, so strap in! because we’re going to the Caribbean!
This marks the final day of a week long celebration at Mahtay Café and Lounge for:
‘o Dia de Los Meurtos’
* This event is in partnership with the ‘Seedling for Change’. http://www.seedlingforchange.org/ *
Be sure to check out our complete lineup of concerts featuring many talented musicians from the Niagara Region and beyond at www.twilightjazz.ca
Tickets $10 in advance
$15 at the door
Musicians & Arts workers $8 at the door
Students $5 at the door
#liveLoveJazz
