Press Release

Public Invited to Days of the Dead Celebration at Evergreen Cemetery.

In honor of Bisbee’s Hispanic heritage, the Evergreen Cemetery Committee will host a Days of the Dead celebration on Saturday, November 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 at the cemetery, to which the public is invited. Among activities scheduled are the portrayal by children of eight local Hispanic families and their contributions to Bisbee’s colorful and storied history.

Evergreen Cemetery Committee member Anna Garcia is spearheading the celebration. “The Days of the Dead is a special and sacred time for many in our community. Our goal is to acknowledge the long-lasting and significant contributions made by many of Bisbee’s Hispanic families, whose stories will be told by the youngest children of those families at their gravesites. Many of the children will wear handmade costumes reflecting their ancestors and their occupations.”

Traditionally celebrated during the first two days of November, the Days of the Dead—including All Saints Day and All Souls Day—is a centuries-old Catholic ritual commemorating a family’s deceased with private feasts and reunions and public celebration, including the cleaning, restoration and decoration of gravesites.

“We encourage anyone who wishes to decorate the grave of a family member or friend to join us and do so,” adds Garcia.

The festivities will also include a blessing by Deacon Tony Underwood, as well as live, traditional Spanish music. Refreshments will be available, as will cempasúchil, the colorful and scented “flower of the dead” often used for gravesite decoration.

Evergreen Cemetery is located just off of the Traffic Circle on Old Douglass Road. For more information about the cemetery or its Days of the Dead celebration, please call committee chairwoman Nancy Davies at (520)432-4422.

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