Colorful decorations against the sky. Aromas of delicious food and wine. Sounds of children laughing and families gathering. All of this comes with Day of the Dead.

Students in  Rebecca Watson’s Spanish I class created altars and masks to celebrate the approaching Day of the Dead on Nov. 2..

“ I wanted to do [the altars and the masks] because in Spanish I we introduce the Day of the Dead,” Watson said. “I wanted to decorate the halls to show everyone, all the students who walk down the T-Wing, the creativity of my students.”

Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members.

“It’s a pretty big holiday in Mexico,” Watson said. “To me it’s just a happy day to celebrate the lives of the deceased.”

In Mexican tradition, those celebrating will paint their faces and make sugar skulls. Families pay tribute to their loved ones with a symbolic altar.

“My students have taken a shoe box to make an altar,” Watson said. “to honor someone they know that’s deceased.”

Watson and Spanish II teacher Rebecca Henson created a space in the T-wing for students to place handmade altars.

“This is a great way to remember our loved ones,” sophomore Sheyla Hidalgo said. “I felt proud of my culture.”