
Death Rituals: The Legacy of Olvera Street with Christina Mariscal Pasten
From On the Table with Ashley by Âme Atendre
February 25, 2026 · 16 min
About this episode
The episode explores the cultural significance of Olvera Street and the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos with guest Christina Mariscal Pasten.
Olvera Street is on the Table Today! Today we are joined by Christina Mariscal Pasten. As the daughter of merchants herself, Christina is a founding board member of The Olvera Street Merchants Association. Olvera Street is a historical street in Los Angeles, which served as the center of Spanish and Mexican life in the early 1900s. The merchants on Olvera Street have been celebrating Dia De Los Muertos for decades with a 9 day long festival. The celebration incorporates the pre-Columbian, Aztec, Mayan and Catholic rituals surrounding death. This conversation explores the rich history and cultural significance of Olvera Street and the celebration of Dios de los Muertos. Christina Mariscal Pasten shares her personal connection to Olvera Street, her family's legacy, and the role of the Olvera Street Merchant Association Foundation in preserving traditions. What results is a beautiful conversation about cultural exchange and understanding, as well as the personal practices that keep the memory of loved ones alive. Learn more about Olvera Street Merchants Association here . Read Rain of Gold by Victor Villansenor. Listen to Brains On. Listen to Greeking Out . Listen to Work Life with…
People in this episode
Hosts: Âme Atendre, Ashley
Guest: Christina Mariscal Pasten
Topics covered
- death rituals
- cultural significance
- Olvera Street
- Dia De Los Muertos
- cultural exchange
- family legacy
Keywords
- Olvera Street
- Dia De Los Muertos
- cultural traditions
- death rituals
- Los Angeles
- merchants association
- family legacy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Olvera Street Merchants Association
Books & works: Rain of Gold
Places: Olvera Street, Los Angeles
More episodes of On the Table with Ashley
- Food and Connection Series: Food as a Form of Communication with Ken Albala Ph.D. · June 3, 2026 · 1h 6m
- Food and Connection Series: Why Smell Shapes Everything We Eat with Rachel Herz, Ph.D. · May 20, 2026 · 49 min
- Bonus Re-Release: From Chaos to Calm: Unpacking Home Organization with Emily Schum Terry & Ann Martin of “Get Organized” · May 6, 2026 · 48 min
- Death Rituals Series: Chevra Kadisha with Gail Rubin · April 22, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Death Rituals Series: History of the American Funeral with Todd Harra · April 8, 2026 · 1h 5m
- Death Rituals Series: Everyday Death Rituals with John Troyer · March 25, 2026 · 1h 23m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the On the Table with Ashley podcast page.