This Clovis bakery helping keep an old tradition alive

CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A locally owned bakery in Clovis wants everyone, of all cultures, to celebrate their loved ones who have died with a Mexican tradition that has been passed on for generations.

Eugenia Juarez is the owner of Cafe Oaxaca.

Her daughter. Rosi Garcia is one of the bakers.

Garcia says their family can trace the tradition of baking back to her grandfather, Isais Porras, who became a baker in Oaxaca, Mexico.

“He learned to bake throughout his life and taught all his kids, including my mother,” Garcia said.

Now that Porras has passed away, Garcia and her family dedicate a spot for him on their Day of the Dead altar, known as an ofrenda.

“He’s my grandpa, and he is the reason why the bakery is open today,” Garcia said.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in certain regions and states in Mexico and other countries in Latin America.

Garcia and her mother are from the state of Oaxaca and have celebrated Dia De Muertos for years.

Juarez says anyone who wants to honor their dearly departed in that way should follow these simple steps when building and maintaining their own ofrenda:

1. Gather photos of your dearly departed.
2. Find a place to organize your ofrenda. This spot in the house should not be disturbed.
3. Place fruits, food and other things significant to the people in the photos.
4. Water, for your loved one to drink
5. Marigold flowers, known as cempasuchil in Mexico, to guide the dead to the altar

Juarez has invited anyone and everyone in the community to make an ofrenda for the first time so that they can feel closer to their loved ones whom they miss most.

Garcia says there’s no single way to make an ofrenda, and anyone who is intimidated should not worry. But if anyone is uncomfortable making one, Garcia says they can bring a small photo of their loved ones to Cafe Oaxaca to be a part of their ofrenda.

“We just ask them to leave their information behind the pictures,” Garcia said. “So that we know how to give that back to them.”