T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY The Day of the Dead display is up inside of Lara’s Bakery at 701 N. 3rd Ave. Ste. C. Lara’s is one of a handful of local businesses celebrating the Latin American holiday this weekend.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is celebrated throughout Latin America, is commemorated on Nov. 1 and 2, with festivities sometimes lasting the entire week. In Marshalltown, a group of business owners have teamed up to bring a glimpse of these traditions to the public.

Yesenia Paz, owner of Yessy’s Creations and Yessy’s Animations, came up with the idea to host a Day of the Dead celebration at Mojitos restaurant Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and at Lara’s Bakery 3 Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. Radio Z will be live at Mojitos. She said her children Lewis and Stephanie Reyes would be dressed up as characters from the children’s film “Coco” for photo ops at both locales. The movie centers on 12-year-old Miguel who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead where he connects with his great-great-grandfather — a plotline inspired by Day of the Dead.

Altars or “ofrendas” will be set up at these businesses, with offerings for the deceased, such as fruit, flowers, sugar sculls, water and candles. People are welcome to bring photos of deceased loved ones for display.

Paz, who is originally from Guatemala, said All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) — celebrated by many Christian churches — have similar significance in honoring the dead.

“The Day of the Dead is a tradition where we think the dead come up and visit us and we’re together spiritually,” Paz said.

Juan C. Dominguez, who owns Mojitos, 3303 S. Center St., said he and his manager Feliciano Galindo both hail from the Mexican town of Puebla, and are used to celebrating Day of the Dead. He explained that each element of the offering has special meaning.

“Cempasúchil flowers (marigolds) are considered the ‘flower of the dead’ because they die quickly after being cut, which symbolizes the journey from the realm of the living to that of the dead,” he said. “Candles represent fire, which lights the way back for souls to their home. Sugar skulls represent the deceased. Bread of the dead refers to the skeleton of the deceased, and water means the purity of the soul and eliminates the thirst of the deceased.”

Kids will receive free candy and desserts at Mojitos, and Lara’s will be giving out treat bags with mini bread and candy.

Gabriella Cano, who co-owns Lara’s Bakery with her sister Patcy Castillo, said they wanted to participate in a public Day of the Dead display because it’s a holiday their Mexican family also observes every year.

“We have our altar of our family members that have passed away. We put up an altar with water, lights, fruit, salt, and bread, and then we add things they used to like,” Cano explained.

Castillo added they put up their altar on Oct. 26 because the next day honors pets that have passed away.

“Every day has a specific person you honor until Nov. 2,” she said.

Some people follow this schedule:

Oct. 27: Pets that have died are remembered.

Oct. 28: Dedicated to those who died violently, in accidents, or victims of crime.

Oct. 30 and 31: The altar is set up for children who died without being baptized, and for those who didn’t get to be born.

Nov. 1: Dedicated to children who have died.

Nov. 2: Dedicated to adults who have died.

Nov. 3: Offerings are taken down.

People also visit cemeteries where they clean the gravesite of their loved ones and erect altars on headstones.

“For me personally, it’s about keeping the tradition and thinking of loved ones in a positive way and their memories — a celebration, honoring and not just mourning — celebrating the best part of the people who have passed away. They’re still part of the family and the family knows they still exist,” Castillo said.

Paz said she hopes to grow the event every year.

“I wanted to get a majority of the local businesses in Marshalltown to participate. I wanted it to be a big thing, but sadly, there were only two businesses that got involved,” she said. “We will do it anyway.”