Outrage greets 'Day of the Dead'-themed party planned for San Francisco

Eva Uscanga, 4, sits on her dad Fabricio's shoulders during a Day of the Dead celebration in the Mission district in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, November 2, 2015. Eva Uscanga, 4, sits on her dad Fabricio's shoulders during a Day of the Dead celebration in the Mission district in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, November 2, 2015. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close Outrage greets 'Day of the Dead'-themed party planned for San Francisco 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

A dance party scheduled for November 3 in San Francisco has spurred outrage among Bay Area residents due to its "Day of the Dead" theme and what some perceive as a perversion of Mexican traditions.

The party's Facebook event page, titled "Day of the Dead Comes to San Francisco," became a bulletin board of vitriol from people decrying the intentions of the event and its cultural appropriation.

"This is completely offensive," Bernardette Arellano wrote on the event page. "Do the organizers know anything about Día de Los Muertos?"

A source of contention for many commenters was the party's description, which reads, "In the last few years, Day of the Dead has exploded in popularity and we've decided to go MASSIVE."

The event promises attendees "an authentic Dia De Muertos experience," complete with DJs, piñatas, aerial performers, and "Europe's largest confetti cannons." The event is scheduled for Nov. 3, whereas Day of the Dead celebrations end Nov. 2.

While such spectacles may have a place at raves and dance clubs, many commenters agreed that one would be hard-pressed to encounter them at traditional Day of the Dead festivities.

"It's a shame to see this degree of whitewashing in a place that prides itself in genuinely embracing cultures," wrote Gino Abrajano.

After seeing the event circulate on Facebook – nearly 20,000 people have RSVPed as "interested" or "going" – Moises Garcia with Calle 24 Cultural District in the Mission District didn't know what to make of it.

"I can't tell if it's real or not," he said.

Some commenters speculated that the high number of RSVPS stemmed from people confusing the party with the 35th annual Día de los Muertos procession in the Mission.

"This isn't the normal festival," John Baehr pointed out, suggesting that this event was taking away attention from "the traditional Dia De Los Muertos that has been put on in SF every year."

The event is similarly marketed to a "Day of the Dead" party that toured the United Kingdom earlier this year. Tickets for the UK tour were available for purchase on party promoting website Fatsoma. Neither representatives from Fatsoma nor the "Day of the Dead" US and UK tour Facebook pages could be reached for comment.

Day of the Dead – El Día de Los Muertos or Día de Muertos in Spanish – is a Mexican holiday devoted to remembering and celebrating the deceased. The lively festival originated thousands of years ago among the Aztecs in central and southern Mexico and later blended with Christianity to become a three-day celebration coinciding with All Saints' Eve (Halloween), All Saints' Day (Nov. 1), and All Souls' Day (Nov. 2).

Garcia directed those interested in Day of the Dead celebrations to the Día de los Muertos procession in the Mission, hosted by El Colectivo del Rescate Cultural on Nov. 2. The procession will culminate at the Mission Cultural Center for the Marigold Project's Annual Festival of Altars.

Nanette Asimov contributed to this report.

Read Michelle Robertson’s latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.



