Death impacts all of us. Be it our family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors — we all lose someone close to us at some point in our lives. Yet, despite this shared condition of experiencing the deaths of those around us, different people, families, and cultures respond to death in very different ways.

For some, it is a solemn and somber affair, where anything but a serious, pensive remembrance of the dead is taboo. Others are not as strict with their funereal formality but still frown upon treating it as a lighthearted matter. Conversely, other cultures take death in stride, understanding that it is an unfortunate, but unavoidable, part of life that is best processed with both celebration and sadness.

One of the most prominent and well-known examples of a culture with this “death positive” mindset can be found in the Mexican cultural celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday observed from the evening of October 31 through November 2 — coinciding with the traditional Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively. 

Often incorrectly portrayed as a “Mexican Halloween” due to its proximity to October 31 and its heavy use of skull and skeleton imagery, Day of the Dead is not about horror, macabre, or the celebration of death in and of itself, but rather, is about celebrating the lives and honoring the spirits of family and friends who have passed away. 

There is no temporal limit to who is celebrated during the Day of the Dead. It is intended to be a celebration for both those who have recently died and those who passed away long ago.

But why a celebration? 

There is a belief in Mexican culture that every person experiences three deaths. The first death occurs when the person takes their last breath and is no longer living — the traditional conception of death. The second death occurs when the body has been interred in its final resting place, never to see the light of day again. Finally, the third death is thought to occur when there is no living person who remembers you. 

This final death is regarded as the worst and most painful to experience, thus Day of the Dead celebrations serve as a way to bolster the memory of the deceased and prevent them from suffering this third “death” by being forgotten by the living

One of the central aspects of celebrating the Day of the Dead and supporting the memory of friends and family who have passed away is the creation of small home altars, called ofrendas, to honor the deceased and invite their spirits to visit.

What is an ofrenda?

What is an ofrenda? Translating to “offering” in English, ofrendas are built by both friends and family to honor those close to them who have passed away — with the symbolic (or, to some, literal) intention of inviting the spirits of those being honored to visit the ofrenda, refresh themselves, and be in the company of their living friends and family. 

In some instances, fans and ardent supporters of artists, musicians, athletes, actors, and other celebrities who have passed away may also build ofrendas to honor and welcome their spirit, despite never having a direct personal relationship with them while alive.

Ofrendas are typically constructed for an individual, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. Some choose to create a single ofrenda for multiple people within their family or create ofrendas for married couples who have passed away.

What are the main components of an ofrenda?

Different regions and sub-cultures throughout Mexico and Latin America have slightly different takes on what exactly makes up an ofrenda — but broadly speaking — an ofrenda consists of a three-tiered altar constructed using a combination of tables, crates, and pedestals. Some even make purpose-built wooden altars for especially grand or complex ofrendas.

The altar is then adorned with various tablecloths, floral arrangements, special decorative paper cutouts (papal picado), photographs of the deceased, statuettes of saints or The Virgin Mary, candles, incense, rosary beads, sugar skulls (calaveras), skeleton figurines (calacas) and significant personal effects. Altogether, the decorative elements are intended to be representative of the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air).

Specifically, the candles represent fire and are intended to help light the way for the spirits of the dead to find their way to the ofrenda. Smoke and smells from the incense are intended to ward off evil spirits and negative energy, while the paper cutouts (papal picado) that move easily in the wind are intended to represent air. Water is represented literally, by including a glass of water for the spirit to refresh themselves, while the earth is represented metaphorically through the food items included in the ofrenda.

Food plays a major role in Day of the Dead and some of the deceased’s favorite foods along with foods made specifically for the holiday like pan de muerto are placed on the ofrenda. For adults who drank or smoked, it is common to put their favorite drinks or brand of cigarettes on the ofrenda, while for children it is common to include lots of candy and small toys.

Some even choose to include a small washbasin, soap, towel, and a mirror on the lowest level of the ofrenda to allow the spirits of their friends and relatives to wash and refresh their appearance before being in the company of their living friends and family.

How to make your own ofrenda

To build an ofrenda at home you first need to construct the base structure of the altar. This can be as simple or complex as you like — from small two-tier structures consisting of just a small side table with box or shelf placed on top to custom-built seven-tier wooden structures that almost look like small staircases or bleachers. 

Next, you should cover the structure with tablecloths — ideally using colors or patterns that had significance to the spirit, like their favorite color or the colors of their alma mater. The colors should also be bright and inviting to help the ofrenda stand out so the spirit can more easily find it.

The exact make-up of the items placed on the altar varies from person to person, but at the minimum, an ofrenda should include small floral arrangements, candles and/or incense, some sort of food or beverage, a personal effect, or other small items with significance to the deceased and most importantly — a photograph of the deceased. 

In terms of the order, candles and incense are traditionally placed on the lowest tier. This is where you would also place a washbasin and mirror for the spirit to cleanse themselves should you choose to include that element. The middle tier or tiers are a bit more free form — typically this is where floral arrangements, statuettes, foods, personal effects, and decorative elements like sugar skulls (calaveras) are placed.

The personal effects chosen should have significance to the person being honored and should focus on positive memories. For example, small model cars and car keys would be a good choice for an auto enthusiast who was passionate about cars during their lifetime. For an athlete or dedicated sports fan, related sporting equipment like a baseball glove, team pennant, or prized trophy would be good items to include in their ofrenda.

More lighthearted takes on an ofrenda may also include friends and family writing short, silly mock epitaphs, known as calaveras literarias, to reference jokes or funny anecdotes the departed was known for.

Overall, the point of an ofrenda is to create a physical representation of their memory that is heartfelt and sincere; to cement their mental presence in their loved ones’ minds and prevent their “third death.” Therefore, there is no “wrong” way to make an ofrenda as long as it achieves that overarching goal.