On a crisp Saturday afternoon in late October, light streams into Walker's Point Center for the Arts, illuminating the vibrant colors featured in the various Dia de los Muertos — Day of the Dead — altars on display.

Soft pinks and blues adorn an altar remembering deceased infants. Bold oranges and yellows daub another altar, this one remembering the late Pope John Paul II. Green and red Mexican paper cutouts hang from the ceiling. All are elements of a traditional Day of the Dead celebration included in an exhibit on the Mexican festival at the art gallery, 911 W. National Ave.

Basic elements of a Day of the Dead altar feature marigolds, candles, food and drink and personal items of the deceased.

"Marigolds are the ancient Aztec symbol of death and are called 'the flower of 400 lives,'" said Ellen Burmeister, marketing coordinator for the Latino Arts, Inc. Gallery, 1028 S. 9th St. "The scent they exude reportedly is the smell of death."

Incense and food and drink welcome the deceased back and let them know the family is thinking of them, Burmeister said.

Traditionally, Day of the Dead altars include the four elements of life and the paper cutouts represent the wind, said Rosa Zamora, the curator for the Walker's Point exhibit. "They convey Day of the Dead images — flowers, candles and skeletons."

"The Day of the Dead is not mourning, instead it's a fond remembrance of the deceased," Burmeister said.

Germán Carrillo, associate professor of Spanish, said contrary to what most Americans believe, the Day of the Dead originated in Mexico and is not celebrated in all Hispanic countries.

The celebration mixes components of Christian and Aztec tradition and began during the Spanish Christianization of Mexico, according to Carrillo.

"The closeness to Halloween has resulted in a potpourri of Christian and non-Christian beliefs," Carrillo said.

Burmeister said families will go to the cemetery to feast, pray and sing.

The Catholic All Souls' Day on Nov. 2 was traditionally a day to visit the tombs of family members and pray, according to Carrillo.

"The Aztecs believed death was a continuation of life and that the soul doesn't depart permanently," Carrillo said. "They believed the soul communicates with the living and misses parts of the previous life."

Because the Aztecs believed the souls missed certain aspects of their previous life, such as their favorite food and drink, Mexicans carried that tradition over and will bring food and drink to the cemetery as offerings to the dead, Carrillo said.

The holiday has taken on new signficance in certain neighborhoods of Milwaukee.

"With the neighborhood being very Hispanic it is very relevant since many residents are immigrants," said Gary Tuma, executive director for Walker's Point. "Most of the altars are made by neighborhood residents."

Traditionally, Day of the Dead altars honor family members, Tuma said. However, the exhibit features two altars to Pope John Paul II and a piece dedicated to immigrants who lost their lives crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.