The Mission Historical Museum is preparing for their annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival and opening reception to be held on Oct. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Museum Annex Building, 200 E. Tom Landry St. in Mission.

The special program and opening will feature altar presentations, live Catrinas, a multi-media exhibit, and samplings of traditional music and food. There will be special activities for children from 4 to 6 p.m., including face painting, crafts, and a day of the dead procession.

In European cultures, death is seen as the end of life, but in the native cultures of Mexico, life is believed to continue after death. Cemeteries are decorated and altars made in homes and public places to welcome the spirits of the departed with their favorite foods, valuables, and even toys for the spirits of children. A noisy procession is sometimes used to guide the spirits to the festival. Thus, on Dia de los Muertos, the living and the dead celebrate together.

For more information, contact the Museum at 580-8646.