By Chris Begley
Contributing Photographer

In the first of a series highlighting the diverse arts community of Lexington — a city where more than 100 languages are spoken — Undermain contributor Chris Begley has photographed recent events celebrating the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos in Spanish. This holiday, most often observed on Nov. 1 and 2, combines indigenous central Mexican traditions, dating back to the Aztecs in the 15th century, with Spanish Catholic traditions. While it has origins in Mexico, many different Day of the Dead traditions are celebrated throughout Latin America, and it has become popular among expatriate communities in the United States and elsewhere. In Lexington, public Day of the Dead events at the Living Arts and Science Center and performances by Bluegrass Youth Ballet and Casa de la Cultura de Kentucky began over a decade ago, joined more recently by groups such as Arabesque World Dance. Visit our slideshow below for images from performances in 2023 and 2024.