An op-ed examines how American celebrations of Día de los Muertos often blend cultural appropriation with genuine appreciation, highlighting popular trends like Stanley Cup-themed tributes, Barbie dolls, and ofrenda kits. The piece explores the fine line between honoring Mexican traditions and reducing them to commercialized, superficial gestures, questioning whether well-intentioned participation risks diluting the holiday’s deeper meaning. It contrasts the ways some Americans engage with the holiday—through art, education, and respectful observance—against those who treat it as a seasonal aesthetic without understanding its roots. The analysis prompts readers to reflect on cultural exchange versus exploitation in holiday celebrations.

Op-Ed: Stanley Cups, Barbies and Ofrenda Kits: What America Gets Right and Wrong About Día de los Muertos  we are mitú