The Ofrenda Project

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a celebration of life and death that is observed by Mexican and other Latin American cultures. Not to be confused with Halloween, this holiday is a way to speak about and view death as not an ending but as a continuation of a natural process. Despite being a day to remember loved ones that have died, the celebration is happy, bright and colorful, a celebration of the lives of the departed. Food, music and laughter is a very important aspect of Día de los Muertos celebrations.

The ancient cultures of Latin America believed that the spirits returned to the land of the living once a year and Día de los Muertos is a way to welcome them back. When the Spanish came to Mexico, instead of trying to eradicate the traditions of the indigenous peoples, they adopted the traditions and adapted them to fit within the Catholic religion’s teachings. November 1st became All Saints Day.

November 1st, is traditionally known as Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) and is meant to honor and memorialize children who have died. 

November 2nd, is traditionally known as Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Departed/Dead) and is meant to honor and memorialize all departed adult souls. 

The main part of celebrating Día de los Muertos is the construction of an ofrenda (altar) which symbolizes a welcome for the departed spirits. The ofrenda can be constructed either at home or at the departed person’s grave. Depending on different socioeconomic factors, such as wealth and status, the ofrenda can be elaborate or simple. The ofrenda includes different items that represent aspects of the necessary elements of life: water, wind, fire, and earth.  

• Water is represented by a cup or pitcher of water, and is meant to satisfy the spirit’s thirst.  
• Fire is represented by the lit candles on the ofrenda and are used to symbolically guide the spirit to the land of the living.  
• Wind is represented by the use of papel picado (tissue paper cut-outs). Usually intricately made to show streets, people and skeleton figures, the papel picado is made of brightly colored paper that waves in the breeze which is why it is used to symbolize the element of wind. 
• Earth is represented by food and includes the traditional Mexican bread called pan de muerto (bread of the dead) that is made and used specifically in Día de los Muertos celebrations. The bread is usually flavored with anise and orange to make it both sweet and fragrant and again symbolizes the main physical state of life.  

Other aspects of the ofrenda include: a picture of the departed, the favorite foods of the departed, copal (an incense), fruit and an arco (arch). The ofrenda will include any items that were dear to the departed in the hopes of making it more personal and appealing to the spirits to return for a visit.  

The picture of the departed is placed proudly on the ofrenda as a reminder and also to welcome the spirit back. It will oftentimes be the most prominent aspect of the ofrenda. 

Copal incense symbolizes the change from the physical state to the supernatural, as the tree is transformed to smoke as the incense is burned. The smoke is also thought to take the prayers for the departed to heaven.  

Calaveritas de azúcar (sugar skulls) are another common part of what are used to decorate ofrendas. They are very recognizable and used to symbolize “death and the sweetness of life” (Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum LVM Day of the Dead).  

The pre-Columbian Aztec culture used cempasúchil (marigolds) to symbolize death. The flowers became another traditional aspect of ofrendas and are associated with many of the Dia de los Muertos traditions and celebrations. Oftentimes, the cempasúchil is scattered from the grave of the departed to the ofrenda to guide them home. 

Calaveras (skeletons) are oftentimes associated with Día de los Muertos and used as symbolic representations of the dead. They can often be seen dressed as living people or participating in activities much like living people. Despite the scary association that skeletons normally have, these calaveras are not meant to scare, instead they are celebrated and people can be seen painting their faces during celebrations and parties for Día de los Muertos.