De Anza College students and faculty celebrated with the spirits of loved ones during the ancient Aztec celebration “Dia de los Muertos” in the Main Quad on Nov. 4.

“Day of the Dead is a celebration rather than a mourning. It’s a Latin American tradition that I wanted to share, to give students a different perception of life and death,” said Jose Romero, member of the De Anza club MEChA.

The celebration took place during the Inter Club Council’s Club Expo, a pseudo-Club Day event where clubs advertise themselves and talk to students.

Clubs took advantage of their spotlight in the quad to celebrate the day. The MEChA club showcased an altar to honor the dead while IMASS painted faces to look like skulls to raise money for club shirts.

The altars are displayed in the Visual and Performing Arts Center and the library. Students are encouraged to place photos of loved ones there, Romero said. The altars will remain open to the public until Friday.

Aztec dancers from the group Xipe Totec in Mexico City marched to the Main Quad and performed a series of dances to wake up spirits and celebrate with the dead, around 1:30 p.m.

“I hope this gives people insight to the rich and diverse culture in Latin America. I hope that sharing this indigenous culture can decolonize the students’ minds,” Romero said.