On Friday, November 4th we will celebrate the Day of the Dead with the year’s most powerful theme: “Death.”

Death is one of the great mysteries of life. Although it is often feared as “the end”, it is simply the counterpoint to birth and a gateway into the afterlife.

Witnessing the end of another’s life has a profound impact on our own. It forces us to let go, relinquish control, and reckon with our own mortality. It perhaps the most human experience of all.

This month, we will honor Mexico’s unique approach to death by creating a space for the sharing of stories of those we have lost, encounters with spirits, and the ways in which we have been transformed by loss.

While this theme is guaranteed to be poignant, don’t be afraid. It won’t be a downer. Last year we had an incredible mixture of stories and tones that created the most unforgettable Cuéntame so far.

You are invited to bring a story share, an item for our “ofrenda” (the traditional altar for the dead), or simply an open heart to hold space for others.