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Talent will celebrate souls' day Tuesday TALENT -- Talent residents will be celebrating the city's 89th birthday Tuesday with a discussion and slide show on El Dia de Los Muertos, the Mexican celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, Nov. 1 and 2. The Talent Historical Society is sponsoring the free evening, which begins at 7 p.m. with the slide show presentation by Susan Dearborn Jackson titled, "Death and Fiesta: The Celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos." Jackson is a researcher and lecturer specializing in Mexican folklore and folk art. For the past five years, Jackson has spent part of her time in Mexico living with families and researching traditional customs. Jackson's exhibits on the Day of the Dead in Eugene turned into a citywide celebration featuring altars and folk art. She is coming to Talent as part of the Chautauqua lecture series sponsored by the Oregon Council of the Humanities. El Dia de Los Muertos is one of the three biggest holidays of the Mexican year. "The belief is that the spirits of the dead return to participate in the activities of the living," said Jackson. The festival has its roots in both Spanish Catholicism and indigenous folklore. "It's a blending of really ancient traditions and beliefs," she said. The day is celebrated with three main rituals: the construction of an altar to welcome the dead, the cleaning and reconstruction of the cemetery, and a preparation of a special meal that is shared by family and friends. "It's a way of recreating the bonds of community solidarity among the living," explained Jackson. "For Anglo audiences ... it's another way to view death. This particular world-view sees life and death as a part of a larger cycle. It's really about the continuation of life through the generations." Also speaking Tuesday will be Manuella Marney, president of the Rogue Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who will be creating an altar and speaking on her personal experience of the holiday. After the two speakers, there will be a raffle of baked goods and prizes given for guessing the mystery agricultural objects in the Talent Historical Society museum. Cake and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 512-8838. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA