Dias de los Muertos Celebration at Casa Ramirez

The Days of the Dead — Dias de los Muertos — encompass Nov. 1-2, and at Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, the weeks leading to the holidays are full of opportunities for learning, celebrating, and reflecting. 

Through its founder, the late Macario Ramirez, the gallery at 241 W. 19th St. is credited with locally popularizing the traditional cultural celebration of departed ancestors. Three decades later and two years after his death, Dias de los Muertos at Casa Ramirez is going strong, under the guidance of his wife, Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez.

The presence of Macario still lingers poignantly through a permanent ofrenda (traditional altar of remembrance) to him and through his spirit of altruism that the holidays reignite each fall at the gallery, which shares the traditions, foods and folkart items with the community year-round.

All events are free and open to the public.

Casa Ramirez is offering Saturday classes on building ofrendas, with its wildly popular sugar skull decorating class set for Oct. 22. A Dia de los Muertos open house will be held that same day featuring personal ofrendas created by five families and individuals to honor departed loved ones. Along with a large community altar created by Judy Turner, family altars honoring Macario Ramirez and the Ramirezes’ parents, and one from students at Post Oak High School, all will be displayed in the gallery from Oct. 21-Nov. 11.

The signature event will occur on Oct. 29 — a traditional procession led by Danza Aztecataxcayalotl west along the 200 block of 19th Street to the gallery, where a brief spiritual ceremony will occur at the ofrendas. Those attending will be able to honor a loved one by walking in the procession and by placing a copy of a photo of their loved one or a written tribute (paper and pens provided) at the community ofrenda.

Schedule (all events are at 241 W. 19th St.): 

Oct. 15, 1 p.m.
Dia de los Muertos Altar Traditions
Taught by Chrissie Ramirez
Please reserve through the Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery Facebook page. Walk-ins will be admitted as space is available.

Oct. 22, 4 p.m.
Sugar Skull Decorating
Lisa Peters & Jonathon Rodarte will help each participant decorate a traditional sugar skull, while supplies last. No reservation required.

Oct. 22, 5-7 p.m.
Dia de los Muertos Altar Open House
Tour the five personal ofrendas and specialty ofrendas created for the community and the gallery owners’ family while enjoying free traditional refreshments and live music.

Oct. 29, 5 p.m.
Procession + Altar Ceremonies
Participants will gather at the east end of 19th Street near Yale Street for a performance by Danza Azteca Taxcayalotl, who will lead a procession to the Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery at 241 W. 19th St. The gallery will be open to see the altars, contribute to the community ofrenda, and share in traditional refreshments and music.

Family altars will be displayed in the gallery from Oct. 21-Nov. 11.