Be sure to cut out holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth and cut out a few shapes around the skull to give it a decorative touch. Trace several different sugar skull designs on the paper, then cut them out using scissors or a sharp knife. Vibrant colors of blue, yellow, pink, green, and red are best. Be sure to adorn the ofrenda with a colorful paper banner, too.ĭIY papel picado: Make your own banner or papel picado with colorful tissue or lightweight table covers. You may also place some of their most treasured belongings on the altar. A pitcher of water, your loved one’s favorite food, framed pictures, and several candles are appropriate to add. Be sure to incorporate all of the elements, including the water, fire, earth, and wind elements. It’s said that the flower’s vibrant colors and potent fragrance help lure the dead’s souls back home.īuild an altar: You can build your own ofrenda or altar on a table or a cabinet with multiple shelves. Marigolds: These beautiful, brightly colored cempasúchil flowers adorn altars and graves and are also worn on costumes and in women’s hair. Some sugar skulls are made of clay and painted in bright colors. Calaveras are also placed on the loved one’s grave to serve as an offering to honor their spirit. These sugar skulls or calaveras are added to the altar to represent the person’s spirit. Sugar skulls: These colorful treats are made by hand and can include the person’s name inscribed on the forehead. Some of the person’s belongings can also be included so that they have items they recognize when they return for their brief visit. Personal items: Framed photos of the deceased loved one are commonly placed on the altar. Some Mexicans also sprinkle salt on the altar to protect the body from breaking down as it travels between the realm of the dead and the world of the living. You may also adorn the altar with a colorful tablecloth if you choose. The altar may be covered with a white tablecloth, preferably one passed down from family members. More elaborate altars may include up to seven levels. These levels represent heaven, earth, and the underworld. Structure: Most Day of the Dead altars consist of one to three levels, with three most common. Many candles are placed at the altar in the form of a cross to provide the fire element and help the spirits find their way home. The earth is represented by food, including bread and homemade meals. Colorful paper banners or “papel picado” are hung across the altar to represent the wind. Water is left in a pitcher to give the spirits something to quench their thirst. These elements represent the deceased person’s journey as they find the path to rest in peace finally. The four elements: Ofrendas include the four elements of water, wind, earth, and fire. And also how to celebrate the holiday at home! It is also believed that families alive and dead are given permissions to communicate, celebrate, and be with their loved ones again as a large family gathering of living and dead.Īll the objects used to celebrate have meaning for this celebration, especially objects used in the altar or “offerenda.” Meneses provided for us an easy chart that lists each piece. It is meant to be a time to remember the lives of past loved ones and a way to communicate and honor them from beyond the afterlife with family gatherings that include food, music, dancing, and elaborate costumes and decoration of many colors. lĪlthough this day is called the day of the dead, it is actually a celebration of life and death. Later moved to coincide with All Souls day. The altar consists of pictures of the deceased family members, candles, flowers, food dishes their loved ones liked, fresh fruit, sugar skulls and any other thing that the deceased person liked.”Īs we are told by Maria Jose Meneses this holiday even pre-dates Spanish Mexico and was celebrated by the Aztecs who honored their dead with skulls. Rituals include visiting family graves and bringing flowers to place at the graves.in some parts of Mexico and other countries, families have the tradition of building an altar in their homes to remember their loved ones that have passed away. But we often forget the two days after Halloween that are equally as festive and heavy with meaning, Dia De Los Muertos.Īs we were told by Deacon Hector Villareal last, “ All Souls’ Day is a Catholic tradition in which Catholics commemorate the dead by praying for their souls. As Halloween approaches, people are rushing to buy last minute costumes, decorations, pumpkins, and homemade treats for the ghoulish festivities.
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