MILWAUKEE — The colorful display on Jason Gonzalez’s front lawn is more than just bright festive colors.
Three years ago, he built a Day of the Dead altar to honor his mother Judy, who passed away.
Day of the Dead is a two-day celebration where it is believed that the passageway between the real world and the spirit world is open so the deceased can come back to visit their loved ones.
Gonzalez placed things on his altar to remember his mother by, like Disney Mickey Mouse ears and some of her belongings.
The Mexican tradition is meant to be a time of celebration.
“Our house was the house that people came to for parties,” said Gonzalez. “Without me knowing, that’s what happened here, where the community just ended up coming.”
He opened up the altar for the community to come place their ofrendas, or offerings.
With more than a thousand shares on social media and people coming from all across Milwaukee, he said he never expected it to blow up like this.
He said neighbors in the area love seeing the display each year.
“I think their only reference point to this was the movie Coco,” he said. “This was something a little more authentic in real life.”
The day is full of rich history and cultural symbols.
“You’ll see a lot of the mix between some of the Indigenous statues and also the Roman Catholic influence that came from the Spaniards as well,” said Gonzalez.
Community members have honored their loved ones by hanging photos or bringing items to remember them by.
Gonzalez said he’s looking forward to celebrating his loved ones and is happy he’s built something to help others do the same.
The setup will be available after the holiday until mid-November. If you’d like to honor a loved one, you can visit the altar at 4140 S. 1st St. Milwaukee, WI, 53207.