Parts of a Day of the Dead altar

pmyucatan23
Oct 23
4 min read

Offering on the Day of the Dead is a tradition that unites ritual with memory. It is about sharing with our loved ones the food they most enjoyed and keeping their presence alive through remembrance.

The offering is a ritual full of color and meaning, where people express their affection and remembrance toward those who have departed. It is a tradition that combines the sacred with the everyday and reflects the connection between life and death.

On the Day of the Dead, making an offering means sharing with the departed what they most enjoyed: bread, their favorite sweets, fruits, food, water, or even wine if they were adults. It is a way to be close to them, to remember their life, and to keep their memory alive.

The modern offering is the result of the union of two cultures: the Europeans contributed flowers, candles, and wax, while the Indigenous peoples added copal incense, food, and marigold flowers. This meeting of traditions gave rise to the altar we know today, full of scents, colors, and symbols.

Each element of the offering has its own importance; if one is missing, part of the magic and spirit that surround this beautiful custom is lost.

Each of the following elements carries its own story, tradition, poetry, and, above all, mysticism.

Water and salt.

Water and salt are symbols of purity and renewal in the offering. Water is placed to quench the thirst of the souls after their long journey, and salt is used to keep their spirit pure and protect them on their way to and from the world of the living.

Candle and candleholders.

In ancient times, Mexicans used pine splinters (ocote) to light their offerings; today, candles, votive lights, or large wax candles are used. Their flame represents light, faith, and hope, and serves as a guide for the souls to find their way back home. In some Indigenous communities, each candle symbolizes a departed soul, so the number of candles depends on how many spirits the family wishes to receive. When the candles are purple, they express mourning, and when four are placed in the shape of a cross, they mark the cardinal points to guide the souls on their journey.

Copal and incense

Copal was offered by Indigenous peoples to their gods, since incense was not yet known—it arrived later with the Spaniards. This element elevates prayer and praise; it is the fragrance of reverence. It is used to cleanse the space of evil spirits so that the soul may enter its home safely and without danger.

Flowers

They are a symbol of festivity because of their colors and aromatic trails. They decorate and perfume the place during the souls’ visit; when the souls depart, they leave happy. The alhelí (wallflower) and nube (baby’s breath) must not be missing, as their colors represent purity and tenderness, accompanying the souls of children.

In many regions of Mexico, it is customary to make paths of cempasúchil (marigold) petals to guide the souls from the cemetery to the offering and back. Their color and fragrance mark the route for the departed. In ancient times, Indigenous peoples considered this flower medicinal, but over time its use became mainly ornamental. In Nahuatl, cempasúchil means “twenty flower,” a symbol of the cycle of life and death.

Petate and izcuintle

The petate (woven palm mat) and the izcuintle (a small dog, often referring to the Xoloitzcuintli breed) are traditional elements of the offering. The petate serves as a bed or tablecloth where the souls rest and the food is placed, while the izcuintle, sometimes represented as a toy on children’s altars, symbolizes the little dog that guides souls across the river to Mictlán, the underworld or land of the dead.

Bread

The most fraternal offering is bread. The Church presents it as the “Body of Christ.” Made in different forms, bread is one of the most cherished elements on the altar.

Gollete and sugarcane

These are related to the tzompantli—the ancient rack of skulls used by pre-Hispanic peoples. Golletes are ring-shaped pieces of bread placed on the altar, often held up by pieces of sugarcane. The breads symbolize the skulls of defeated enemies, and the canes represent the poles on which they were displayed.

Each element of the offering holds a meaning that connects life with death and remembrance with presence. Through them, we honor those who have gone before us and celebrate their return. The Day of the Dead is a bridge of memory that reminds us that no one truly dies as long as they are remembered.

Written by Sophia :)>3

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