Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition and is a celebration to welcome departed loved ones. Day of the Dead used to last 40 days and over time the celebration condensed anywhere from 7 to 11 days.
A candle is lit each day to celebrate a different loved one and items are placed on an ofrenda, or alter, to remember them by:
- Pets: Water and a loved item
- Passed from tragedy: Flowers, fruit and copal incense
- Passed from drowning: Bread and fruit
- Forgotten: Glass of water
- Passed before birth: White flowers and incense
- Children: Fruits and candies
- Adults: Favorite foods, bottle of spirits and incense
There are additional items placed on an ofrenda that has their own meaning:
- Cempasuchil (Marigold): Represents the bridge of flowers that connects both worlds. A path of flowers is made to help our dear departed find their way back home.
- Glasses of Water: Offered to quench the thirst of the dearly departed after their long journey. Also represents purity.
- A Plate of Salt and Copal Incense: Represents purity and works to prevent bad spirits from following the dearly departed into our homes.
- Calaveritas (Sugar Skulls): These represent respect for death and to remind us of our own mortality. Tradition has the names of the dearly departed written on the skull and eaten, so we carry them with us.
Learn more about Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead.