(Spec)Press Release- Dia de los Angelitos
Come celebrate your little angel by getting a tattoo, meeting fellow bereaved parents, and eating delicious food. The tattooing event starts at 2 pm at Van’s shop, 444 main street, but lots of yummy snacks are always available if you come early. You will see the beautiful mural Athena painted outside, including Robocop climbing the walls. There will be food catered by Sin of Cortez and baked goods from The Upper Crust. Vegan and gluten-free options are available. There will also be live music and arcade games to play. Kids are welcome, but tattoos are only for those 18 and older. Airbrush tattoos will be available for anyone. Everything will be discounted, and be sure to tip because everyone involved is volunteering.
After a pregnancy loss, many parents are left to navigate ways to honor the child and keep their memory alive. The bereaved parents can approach this in any way that feels right and is unique to their story. For Dia de Los Angelistios (Day of Dead for Children), the local tattoo shop, Van’s, will offer discounted artwork to memorialize the little ones gone too soon.
Emmit Van started this tradition after the loss of his son. His wife Athena, a local mural artist, was also part of this eccentric creation. At ten weeks, they lost their son, which they lovingly nicknamed RoboCop, to a miscarriage. To commemorate the loss, Emmit gave both of them RoboCop tattoos. After sharing their artwork with others, people loved the idea… and now, every November 2nd, the celebration takes place.
This November will be the 3rd anniversary that Van’s has celebrated Dia de Los Angelitos. Entire families come out to honor their deceased children and memorialize them with a tattoo or simply gather with those they love. Emmit shared that he never expected this to be an annual event. “I had no idea how many have experienced this. It still shocks me.”
“Tattoos aren’t for everyone, but it’s been such an important part of my journey that I thought others might like it, too.” Emmit shared that many people send in ideas beforehand, and he comes up with original art pieces. “When they arrive, many are nervous to see what I’ve made. Sometimes we alter it before the tattoo, but most of the time, they like what I’ve done.” His designs are unique and focus on detailed linework. If this is your style, too, you’ll love what he comes up with.
Grief is unique to each individual; ways to move through it takes creativity. “We didn’t know how to heal from a miscarriage as there’s often not a funeral or ceremony. I think this helps with acknowledging the lives lost.” Athena shares as she shows me her Robocop tattoo that matches Emmit’s.
The event has grown each year, so be prepared for a crowd. If you’d like, reach out to Emmit with a tattoo idea, or options will be available. The food will be delicious, and I hear there’s usually a Pac-Man tournament. I attended last year and left with a rare piece of art. What a beautiful way to celebrate the children we lost too soon.