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SALT LAKE CITY — More than a hundred people participated in a Dia de los Muertos event in Troly Square on Saturday, placing more than 1,200 photos of their loved ones who died on an altar. The event was part of an effort to set a new Guinness World Record for the most photos of loved ones on a Dia de los Muertos altar, also known as an ofreda. The record category didn’t exist before, and the non-profit Una Mano Amiga, which hosted the event, is working to make the record official. “This category doesn’t exist; we were the first in the world,” said Una Mano Amiga founder Rocio Mejia. “We had a total of 1,205 photographs of dead (individuals) locally, nationally and internationally.” Dia de los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday with pre-Columbian roots celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd. As part of the event, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Utah Department of Multicultural Affairs Director Nubia Peña read proclamations recognizing Dia de los Muertos at the county and state level. “This holiday isn’t just for one community; it’s for all Utahns,” Peña said. “This is a unified way to come together to celebrate what many of us have experienced: the loss of a loved one.” Marla Love, founder of Arte Primero and one of the event’s organizers, said the event is a reflection of Utah’s diversity — something she’s seen grow since she moved from California to Utah in 1993. Students from Arte Primero, a bilingual art and dance studio listen to Arte Primero founder Marla Love and her Una Mano Amiga mother, Rocio Mejia, during a Día de Los Muertos celebration Saturday at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City. (Photo: Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com) “It’s beautiful to see. As I see the audience, there are people from all over the world,” Love said. “Day of the Dead, yes, is a holiday in Mexico. But Day of the Dead is a celebration of people who have died, and the pain of losing someone is universal.” He added that Mexican culture is different from many other cultures, where death is something to be feared. “This is a celebration of those who have died,” said Love, whose family member’s photos were in the ofrenda. “This is a happy holiday.” Utah State Senator Luz Escamilla emphasized the family focus of the holiday and thanked Mejia, the founder of Una Mano Amiga, for continuing the holiday tradition in Utah. “You see these beautiful children here today embracing their history and culture, family and loved ones,” Escamilla said. “The sheer number of images here reflect all of us.” x

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Sydnee Gonzalez is a multicultural reporter for KSL.com covering the diversity of Utah’s people and communities. Se habla español You can find Sydnee at @sydnee_gonzalez on Twitter.