STOCKTON, Calif. — The mixer in the kitchen at Stockton's La Victoria Panaderia can’t catch a break this week, but neither can its owner, Carmen Torres.
Before Sunday, she expects to sell at least 4,000 pieces of the traditional "pan de muertos" or "bread of the dead."
The bread is often placed on alters as offerings for the spirits of the dead, who are believed to return home during "Dia de Muertos" — translated to "Day of the Dead" — to visit relatives.
"We ran out this morning, but we are making more," said Torres of the pre-noon crowd Friday. "Every year, it's the same tradition."
As Irene Pena found out Friday, traditions respect no borders.
"We are from Mexico, from Michoacan," said Pena.
Two years ago, Irene Pena and her family moved to Stockton from Mexico. She never thought she'd get to decorate her altar with traditional marigolds again, until she walked into Paty's Flowers.
"We've had a lot of people come in," said Jennifer Lopez, whose family owns the flower shop. "Yesterday, we almost finished them all. We only had like one left, and we're making more right now."
But for Lopez and so many others, this holiday is not all about business.
"We also celebrate Day of the Dead," said Lopez, adding that an altar in her family's home displays photos of her grandfather and grandmother. "This is (my grandmother's) first year... It's her first year being dead, so it's really emotional for me, but it makes me really happy to be able to put her there, respect her, and hopefully, she comes over and sees that we respect her."
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