The Ofrenda (the altar)

Day of the Dead in Mexico represents a mixture of Christian devotion and Pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs. As a result of this mixture, the celebration comes to life as an unique Mexican tradition including an ofrenda and offerings dedicated to the deceased.

The ofreda includes four main elements of nature — earth, wind, water, and fire.

Earth is represented by crop: The Mexicans believe the souls are fed by the aroma of food.

Wind is represented by a moving object: Tissue paper is commonly used to represent wind.

Water is placed in a container for the soul to quench its thirst after the long journey to the altar.

Fire is represented by a wax candle: Each lit candle represents a soul, and an extra one is placed for the forgotten soul.

 

 

Preparing the Ofrenda

Even families with very limited budgets spare no expense when preparing the ofrenda to honor their family. They want their spirits to enjoy the offerings and to return each year to continue this special spiritual companionship.

The ofrenda is prepared in a place of honor in the home, using empty boxes on a table to form a pyramid of three or more levels, then a white tablecloth covers it all.

 

Four candles are placed on the top level to represent the cardinal directions. A candle is lit for each dead family member, and one extra so that no one is left our. The candles, Which represent hope and faith, burn during the night, so that there is no darkness.

Copal is the resinous sap of the Mexican tree, burned as incense since the time of the Aztecs as an offering to the Gods. On the Day of the Dead ofrenda, the scent attracts spirits, drawing them home. It is also used to cleanse the area and to ward off evil.

 

While most altars are laden with the favorite foods, sweets, drinks and harvest fruits of each family spirit, even the most basic ofrenda includes these basic needs:

• Water to quench the thirst and for purification
• Salt to season the food and for purification
• Bread to represent the food needed for survival.

 

A washbasin, soap, towel, mirror and comb are placed nearby so the spirits can clean up when they return.

 

The hand crafted skeletons; Calaveras, are funny and friendly rather than frightening or spooky. They represent the beloved dead ones, their occupations and hobbies. As they are placed on the ofrenda, the delightful skeleton figures bring back fond memories and cause the grieving ones to smile. The figures with the smells of favorite foods, help the spirits find the right house.

 

Three calaveras, which represent the trinity, are placed on the second level. Colorful tissue paper, papel picado, is cut into intricate designs and strung to flutter over around the ofrenda. This custom comes from the Aztecs who used paper banners in rituals. The colors used represent:

• Black for the Prehispanic religions and land of the dead
• Purple from the Catholic calendar to signify pain, suffering, grief, and mourning
• Pink for celebration
• White for purity and hope
• Yellow and Orange for the marigold, the sun and light.
• Red representing Christians, the blood of Jesus, and for the indigenous, the life blood of humans and animals.

 

Flowers, symbolizing the brevity of life, are massed and fashioned into garlands, wreaths and crosses to decorate the ofrenda and the grave. The marigold is the most traditional flower of the season. In Aztec times it was called the cempasuchil, the flower of 400 lives.

 

The fragrance of the cempasuchil lease the spirits home. Sometimes paths of the petals lead out of the cemetery and to the house to guide the spirits. A cross of marigold petals is formed on the floor so that as the spirit approaches the ofrenda, he will step on the cross and expel his guilt.

 

Personal items of the spirits remembered, the child’s toys, household saints, photos of those honored are added to the ofrenda, along with the tools and utensils used each day, serapes, guitars or drums, gourds for carrying water and cigars or cigarettes.

 

The Mexican flatters and woos death, he sings to her, dances with her, lifts his glass to her, laughs at her.  Finally, he challenges her, and in the challenging, death loses her power to intimidate him. Once he knows death intimately, death is no longer wrapped in a cloak of mystery or causes him to fear the darkness. Once the fear of death has been defeated, the clutch she has on the hearts and minds of the living is lessened once and for all. Death’s morbid side is buried under music and remembrances, while skeletons laugh and dance and sign as Mexico celebrates life in it’s embrace of death.