Day of the Dead serves as a way to connect, pay respects, and remember our loved ones who have passed on to the afterlife. Building an ofrenda goes back to the Pre-Hispanic era to celebrate life and death. This tradition centers around creating an altar with decorations and leaving out items that past loved ones would have enjoyed.
But sometimes, building an ofrenda might be tricky and more complicated than we’d hope. In some cases, grief can make everything seem more difficult. So if you’re looking to honor and remember your family, here’s a simple breakdown of what you’ll need to build your ofrenda:
Structure
Día de Los Muertos is all about the passage of souls through death. So make sure you have three levels placed, earth, middle, and heaven. Your candles, photographs, and food should be at a higher level. You could add a stool between a small table and the floor so you could get the middle ground.
The four main elements
Be sure to incorporate the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Add candles, which are the fire that will guide your relatives. A glass of water so the spirit or the spirits on your altar can relieve their thirst and something that represents the earth, like a carpet or sand. The papel picado represents the wind, but you can always skip it if you want to keep it simple!
Photographs
Do you have photos of your relatives for the altar? That smiling photo of your Papá, mamá, tía, tío or your abuelos. You can also add anyone who you want to pay respects to, any inspiring people who’ve gone through your life. Remember, this day is to honor those people who’ve left an imprint on your path. As long as you’ve got a photograph of your dear one, candles, and a table to put everything on, you’ve got all you really need to build your own ofrenda.
Ofrendas are unique and beautiful, so get as creative as you want, add papel picado, pan de Muerto, your loved one’s favorite drink and foods, flowers, calacas, a lot of candles, and as colorful as you desire. There are thousands of ways to mix it up and craft tailored ofrendas for your loved ones.
Once you have the basics down, you’ll feel at ease. Remind yourself that they will appreciate the effort and intention. As long as you keep your beloved people in mind, that ofrenda will look and feel fantastic!
