Home altars are decorated with marigolds (the flower of the dead); favorite dishes such as tamales, tortillas, pumpkin and mole; candles; incense (copal); toys and other enticements; and objects of personal use.
The altar includes the four main elements of nature – Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. Earth is represented by the crop: The soul is fed by the various earthly aromas. Placing fruit or favorite family dishes on the altar provides nourishment for the beloved souls.
Candles represent fire that is meant to light up the path for the spirits to return. Water and food. These are your offerings to the deceased family members. You are encouraged to place the favorite dishes of your loved ones and in addition, pan de muerto, fruits, and chocolates, along with their favorite alcohol.
Lanterns. In many ways, the Day of the Dead represents Catholic beliefs. For example, Day of the Dead altars often include lanterns hung towards the top of the shrine.
Place a small bowl of salt on your altar. Symbolizing purification, the salt allows the spirit of the deceased to season your edible offering(s). Marigolds or “cempasuchitl” feature prominently in Day of the Dead altars, and you should place them in any available space and/or even create a flower arch over the table.
On the top level of the altar, four candles need to be placed. signifying the four cardinal points. The light of the candle will illuminate the way for the dead upon their return.
1 and 2, honors deceased ancestors. And food and drink are a big part of the festivities — they are ofrendas, or offerings, put on altars to entice deceased loved ones to come back for a visit.
On the first two days of November, those who celebrate setup ofrendas (altars) as a shrine at home or in the community. They are adorned with photographs, personal belongings, candles, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, flowers (typically marigold flowers), incense and more.
Most altars have a simple white table cloth, often one that has been passed through generations, covering the different levels. Salt is placed on the altar. It is believed that salt will protect the body from breaking down as it travels the journey between the world of the dead and of the living.
Cup of water: To quench the thirst of the souls. Salt: Purifies the souls of the deceased. Copal: Cleans and purifies the energy in a given space. Incense: Blesses a given space. Candied skulls: Represents those who have passed away and reminds us of the cycle of death.
Salt - represents the continuance of life. Photo of the deceased - A framed photo of the dead person to whom the altar is dedicated, usually positioned in a prime spot on the altar.
Usually a glass with fresh water is set on the altar so the spirits can quench their thirst after their long journey. The use of water has several meanings. It reflects the purity of the souls. And it can also reflect the regeneration circle of life and death.
Flowers, which symbolize the brevity of life, are an essential element of the Day of the Dead ofrenda. Though many different flowers are used in Day of the Dead celebrations, one flower has become a national symbol for the festival: the marigold.
The food offerings are usually replaced daily, but fruits can be left on the altar for a little while longer. Offerings of fruits, vegetables, and other vegetarian foods are preferred; meats are avoided because they symbolize the killing of animals.
Red – Represents blood and life. Purple – For this holiday, purple represents mourning, grief and suffering. Pink – The bubbly color signifies happiness. Marigolds – People spread petals from these round, yellow-orange flowers to guide spirits of loved ones to the celebration.
Pan de muerto is usually placed on the altars of loved ones during Día de los Muertos festivities. The minimally flavored bread of the dead is placed on the altar as an ofrenda to those who have passed.
The altar usually stays up until November 3, though sometimes they are left for a few more days. Ideally, an altar has seven tiers or steps (symbolizing the route to heaven), each decorated with different trinkets and symbols.
Flowers, butterflies and skulls are typically used as symbols. The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. With their strong scent and vibrant color the petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families' homes.
Revelers in Mexico City celebrate the Day of the Dead by dressing up as the holiday's most ubiquitous symbol, a skeletal figure known as the calavera Catrina.
You can use flameless candles to keep your altar safe from children and pets. Adding in all those tiny details brings the altar life. Use Calaveras for remembering life and death, paper banners to add color and represent wind elements, and butterflies to portray spirits.
The basic altar can be constructed with different levels. Two levels can represent heaven and earth, while three can mean earth, purgatory, and heaven. In other places, people use seven levels to represent the steps up to heaven or the afterlife.
Candles or lights on the altar must remain lit to help guide the spirits back to their families for the celebration. The scent and colors of the marigolds are also said to lead the spirits home. A glass of water is left on the altar in some homes to alleviate the spirit's thirst.