When Peter Marin speaks about Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, his words carry both reverence for the past and an urgency for the present. An artist, educator, and Mexican immigrant who now calls North Carolina home, Marin has dedicated much of his work to preserving and sharing this centuries-old tradition with communities across the state, including right here in Sampson County.

“It is not a religious holiday,” Marin explained. “On the contrary, it’s a time when anybody can participate. Participation is simply remembering, honoring, and celebrating our dead.”

For many Americans, the Day of the Dead may conjure up bright marigolds, sugar skulls, or even popular media portrayals like Disney’s “Coco,” yet Marin stresses that the holiday is far deeper than its commercial symbols. I

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