Every year on Nov. 2, a flood of people adorned in rich and vibrant clothing, jewelry and makeup flock the streets and neighborhoods to hold a special party.

In a dizzying whirlwind of vivid reds, brilliant golds, cool blues and mysterious blacks, these individuals are not just playing dress up. They are celebrating a day practiced and cherished by millions of people around the world — Dia De Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead” — a day that holds significant meaning to honor deceased ancestors.

The Office of Diversity Inclusion in conjunction with Sigma Lambda Beta, Student Involvement and the Student Activities Council plan to feature a table at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Rhatigan Student Center in honor of the celebration.

Quang Nguyen, marketing coordinator for the Office of Diversity Inclusion, summed it up as “a holiday generated from Mexico to celebrate the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties and celebrations.”

Day of the Dead has also become synonymous with its intricate and beautifully decorated sugar skulls.

“They use these skulls…throughout the holiday… [to] symbolize the person who had passed away, and so I would think that it’s just creating things that may symbolize the person who had passed away in your life,” he said.

The skulls have experienced a recent surge in popularity; there are makeup tutorials, tattoos, jewelry and dessert treats.

“We have thought of skulls as being negative or ugly,” said Natalie Toney, program coordinator for ODI. “But the beauty of these skulls, when you see it at the Day of the Dead and the way that the Hispanic community [use it], make it a beautiful thing in celebration.”

The booth Friday will be come and go, Toney said. There will be altars to commemorate and honor “those who have passed,” as well as cookies, sugar skulls and other crafts to decorate.

“It’ll just be something you can do in between classes and kind of be a part of another culture,” she said.

“[We] want to make sure that it’s a fun and festive day,” Nguyen said.

With the popularity comes the Day of the Dead-themed Halloween costumes. But Nguyen and Toney said they hope those costumes don’t cause people to commit cultural appropriation.

“As long as you’re not dressing up to…[perpetuate] stereotypes and pulling things out of context,” Nguyen said.

Toney said costume-wearers should educate themselves before wearing an outfit that represents a culture, which means “getting with people from that community, researching it and knowing why, and then being able to understand that it’s OK to appreciate other cultures, but don’t abuse or mock or other culture.

“Be aware of the way you present yourself … and respect it the way you would want your own culture to be respected.”