The Day of the Dead is a holiday closely related to Halloween and All Saint’s/Soul’s Day. This holiday is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd in Mexico and in some places in the United States. El Día de los Muertos is specifically celebrated in Southern Mexico. This includes Michoacan, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Chiapas and the Yucatan. Northern Mexico is not as celebratory as the South. Residents of the Northern part of Mexico can be seen going to mass and visiting grave sites, while those living in the South can be seen building ofrendas, throwing wild parties and leaving out offerings for their ancestors and family members who have passed away. 

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Interestingly enough, Latin American and Latino neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California also take part in the festivities of the Day of the Dead. On November 2nd, when the adult spirits are said to come down to earth, people bring their celebrations to cemeteries and grave sites. Individuals clean tombs, leave flowers, play cards, listen to music, and remember their loved ones. Some also drink tequila, and sing along to mariachi bands. Many may have learned more about Day of the Dead celebrations through the 2017 film, Coco, which beautifully represents these cultural traditions of remembrance. 

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The construction of ofrendas is one such tradition. An ofrenda is a huge part of the Día de los Muertos celebration. “Ofrenda” means offering in Spanish. The ofrendas are not to worship because individuals who celebrate this holiday are of Catholic faith. The ofrendas are instead created to honor the memories of their dead relatives. Ofrendas are complex and time-consuming to arrange; however, the effect of a finished one is wonderful. Ofrendas can consist of many layers. There is usually a crucifix on the top level, then a lit candle is set out for each deceased relative. Flowers, salt and water, incense (or copal), sugar skulls, and a variety of foods are also set out onto the ofrenda. After the ofrenda tradition, they conclude the festivities by going to the graveyard to visit those who have passed. When they go to the graveyard, most individuals take flowers and candles. Once they arrive at the graveyard where their loved ones were buried, they remove the flowers that are there and replace them with the new ones they brought. They continue by lighting candles and decorating the graves with skeletons. They then host a banquet near their loved ones’ graves. In order to have this banquet, they must save money all throughout the year. 

The “Dia de los Muertos” altar features six objects:

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1. Skulls: These skulls are typically composed of granulated sugar, meringue powder, and water, and are one of the most recognizable symbols of Dia de los Muertos. The mixture of materials is shaped into a skull and then embellished with brilliantly colored decorations. Silvia Natalia Islas, who serves as promotional director of a consortium of artisans located in historic Tlaquepaque, a municipality of Guadalajara, was involved in creating a massive outdoor altar in remembrance of other artisans who have died. She says that, “The skulls represent those who have passed away and are receiving offerings at the altar." and “The sugar symbolizes the sweetness of life.”

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2. Marigolds: The fragrance of these beautiful orange blooms, known as "flowers of the dead" (flor de muerto), is believed to help souls find their way to the altar.

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3. Perforated Paper: it is believed that the delicate nature of the paper is symbolic of the fragility of life. López Fértor, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, described in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine that “The holes allow a way for souls to travel through and visit.”

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4. Pan de Muerto: is a soft, sweet bread dusted with sugar. It is made in a shape resembling a skull and crossbones. 

5. Salt: Salt is laid out in the shape of a cross to help quench the thirst of souls, according to López Fértor, so that "the soul will not be perverted."

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6. Photographs: The photos on the altar of an ofrenda are of individuals who have passed away. It is essential that these photos be placed on the altar in order to allow the souls of the deceased to cross over from the afterlife.

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