It was a hot October day, and paper umbrellas were selling for $7 apiece as I entered the first-ever Fiesta de las Calaveras, an October celebration held at Stonewood Center Mall.

The event was put on by Courage Forward, an organization that pairs at-risk youth with veterans, and the Rotary Club of Downey, to replace the City of Downey’s popular Dios de los Muertos, cancelled this year because of construction at the Civic Center.

**Crystal at the Courage Forward booth. Photo by Lorine Parks**

A young woman named Crystal was sitting under the canopy for the Courage Forward group, dressed in the official black tee shirt with a smiling flowered skull outlined on the front. Crystal said she first became interest in the support-networking group because her father, who works for Mayor of Downey Rick Rodriguez’s security company, told her about it. Homelessness in vets is a growing problem, especial for males ages 18-50. When Crystal heard of this event she was eager to volunteer to let people in Downey know more.

Courage Forward is a non-profit organization of United States military veterans and allies that matches at-risk, or at promise, as they prefer to call the youth, with veterans within a team, connecting with the community around the themes of work, fun and giving back, and being of service. Courage Forward will share equally with the Rotary Club of Downey in the proceeds from the day.

For Courage Forward Veterans, benefits include resources for housing, job training and job placement. Once the veteran is able and stable, he or she will use their experiences, uniting with the where at-promise youth.

The Fiesta de las Calaveras is the Mexican-derived equivalent holiday of the traditional European-sourced Hallowe’en. Centered around October 31 and November 1, spirits rise and children and grown-ups wear costumes to mask their identity.

Today little girls (picture below) were dressed in skeleton costumes with painted faces, or black tops and fancy red ballerina skirts, and booths offered family-friendly activities like painting faces on pumpkins. Concessions sold espadrilles and embroidered blouses.

Bright tent peaks dotted several acres in the southwest corner of the Mall’s parking lot where Fiesta-goers had their choice of Salvadorenas pupusas with sweet fruit punch, or many other Latinx delicacies. An air of festive excitement prevailed.

Rotary under the capable leadership of President Nate Mahoney has been planning the event for months. I tried ask how things were going with President Nate as he went past, but all I got was the busy person’s response, “I’ll see you later.” Later never came, but all around me I could inspect the excellent result of Nate and Rotary and Courage Forward’s volunteer efforts.

“I got here at 12:30 to help with setting up the stage and the tables,” said Lori Tiffany, Executive Director for the Downey Family YMCA. “By then, a lot of the work had already been done. “Alexander Lopez and, and really, all the club, have done everything.”

Lori checked her cell phone and saw that the temperature at 2:30 was “only” 87 degrees. “A blessing,” we agreed. The afternoon promised to get hotter before it cooled down, but the Fiesta was scheduled to go on till ten in the evening. Already the beat of the music was insisting that everyone dance.

Rotarians glimpsed: Maurice Casaus, President-elect and Greg Welch, immediate past President, presenting a coordinated leadership. Will and Kari Medina; Ronnie Fernandez, Pam Powers and Mel Sanchez; Luz Perez, of TLC; Dale Self, Manny Castro; Doug Baker and wife Jaime Sul, who was busy custom-cutting (where did the scissors come from?) her official tee shirt’s neckline into a more becoming bateau-shape. Other club members were helping at booths and the stage, where folk dance teams were scheduled. Everywhere was the spirit of “Rotarians having fun doing good.”

Last year at the Dias de los Muertos I had learned from Carolina Estrada-Del Toro that the altars are the heart on every celebration of the dead, so I made my way in search of the one erected by PTA Helps, the food pantry that offers sustenance to needy families of Downey school children.

First I met Norma, President of PTA Helps, and Crystal, Director of Budget. They were unanimous in praising Yoco, their co-worker as responsible for the altar. Then another whirlwind came through.

“I’m so glad to see you here,” said Cecelia Goñez, whom I knew as a past president of the Downey Soroptimist. Cecelia also has a long history with PTA.

Cecelia’s interest in Courage Forward began when she learned they were interested in sponsoring a Veteran’s Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Human trafficking and exploitation is a huge issue in the United States, and has been the cause close to Cecelia’s heart and Soroptimist too, where “the best for women and girls” is their motto.

“We’re having another Expo and Symposium on Saturday. January 11, at the Downey Adult School,” Cecelia said.

Cecelia introduced me to the architect of the PTA alter, Yoco Guzman. “We had these in Mexico where I grew up,” Yoco said, “in Chetumal, in the province of Quintana Roo.” “That means you’re Mayan,” I said. “Yes,” said, Yoko, “and my grandmother still speaks a dialect of Mayan.

“This is our way to honor our ancestors,” Yoco said, “for their time on earth. For this special altar, we decided to honor PTA members who made great contributions, and also people who are important in bringing fame to Downey. So there is a framed picture of Karen Carpenter, and another of John Gately Downey, the man our city is named for.”

“There are three levels to an altar,” said Yoco. “The overhead arch of paper roses, that stands for Heaven. Then the table holds the earthly pleasures of the dead. There are candles to help them find their way to earth, and a dish of pan de muerto, a sweet bread, for the dead, and also cookies, candies, and a tamale in a glazed bowl, a food the dead like. There is a cup of water, to quench their thirst in traveling for one day to earth. And pictures, so we keep them with us. This is an uplifting time, to remember loved ones who have died.”

The orange-colored marigolds were everywhere. “Because their aroma is so pungent, “said Yoco, “that helps the dead to find the altar. The sugar skulls you see are made by a Mayan woman, and I brought them with me from Mexico. Skull art is a reminder of life’s brevity, and candles represent the element of fire and attract the spirits to the altar.”

“On the ground below the altar,” said Yoco, “are carnations and stalks of gladiolas, laid down in the shape of a cross, to signify the empty tomb.” Calvary, or Calavaras, is a word that in the Aramaic that Jesus spoke, means Skulls. It is also called Golgotha in the Bible.

As I walked around the Fiesta exhibits I found that one of the vendors had also made a small altar with a large cross in the middle of her skull and candle display. The picture was her mother, said the seller.

“She passed away seven years ago.” The beautifully decorated skulls are not frightening, and are often attached to skeletons that go about daily activities like singing, dancing, and marrying.

“This event has been very well pre-planned,” said Rotarian Ray Brown.

“Compared to the first time for the Arc Walk for Independence, which is now going on its 29th year, this is well-organized.”

When I asked how the money earned today would be spent, Ray said, “You can look at it this way. There are worthy organizations that we learn of last-moment, that are not budgeted. These funds can be used for them.”

“We could not have done this without Rotary,” said Cecelia, attesting to the abilities of Downey’s original service club, founded almost 100 years ago.

“Even if the City of Downey offers the Dias de Los Muertos at Civic Center again next year,” said Ray, “we think we will be able to continue with this unique partnership for this special day.”

A new Downey tradition? Fiesta de las Calaveras