No matter what time of year, as Mexicans, we believe it is always important to greet your guests with delicious food and beverage.
This concept, which is referred to as "la bienvenida" has been ingrained in me since childhood.
But "la bienvenida" is not just for the living, it's also for the dead, which is why we build an "ofrenda" or "offering" to welcome our loved ones back home.
What is an ofrenda and why is it prepared?
An ofrenda (altar) traditionally includes the deceased's favorite foods, drinks, pictures, and personal items, but it is also filled with other elements that have different meanings.
When I made my first altar, I was overwhelmed and didn't follow every tradition, but the love and intention was definitely there.
Over the years, my ofrendas have become more elaborate and I've realized that learning customs is just like anything else.
It takes time, practice, and study.
I've also learned that building an altar is not a one-size fits all process. Traditions vary from state to state and some parts of Mexico don't even celebrate.
So if you're new to this process, don't worry, you're not alone and it's never too late to start.
If you're interested in learning more, I've provided more information on the different types of altars as well as a list of essential elements and their meaning below.
This way, you can also build your first ofrenda and honor your loved ones or pets.
STAY TUNED FOR MY BOOK LAUNCH
For more in-depth analysis and information on these beautiful traditions, make sure to stay tuned to find out when my book "Day of the Dead: Mexico's Celebration of Life" launches next fall 2025.
how to design a beautiful altar ...
The Different Types of Altars
Although customs can vary across Mexico, I've learned that there are certain elements every altar should have– such as the arch, marigolds, pan de muerto, candles, and photos of your loved ones.
I've also learned that there is no one correct way to build an altar. Every altar is unique in its own vision and presentation and can vary depending on social class, how much money one has, the personal items of the deceased, and food which varies from region to region.
In my opinion, as long as you prepare an altar with love, you can't go wrong.
Traditionally, there are three styles of altars— two-tiered, three-tiered, and seven-tiered.
Two-tiered altar
Two-tiered altars are the most common style and usually include the use of a table and the floor. The table is used as the top tier to represent heaven, while the ground is the bottom level and represents earth. It's more common to find this style of altar in private homes in Mexico as opposed to public spaces, but I've also found that my friends who live in cities or apartments are more inclined to build two-tier altars due to limited space.
Three-tiered altar
In a three-tier altar, the top level represents Heaven, the second level symbolizes Earth, and the bottom level embodies the Underworld or Purgatory– which represents the different levels of human existence.
There are a few different ways to create the tiers in this style of altar. Some people choose to stack a smaller table on a larger one, while others use cardboard boxes or wine crates, which they disguise by draping a tablecloth.
A three-tiered altar also always includes an arch, which represents Heaven or the passageway between the after life for the souls to visit us on earth.
For the bottom level, altars include a mat or petate (traditional rug, woven from fibers of palm) as a resting place for the souls who are visiting. The last level may also include a cross that is made from either candles, flowers, or even sand.
7-Tiered Altar
If you walk around the zócalo (a public square or plaza) in any main city in Mexico, you may spot a 7-tier altar that commemorates large groups of people or even celebrities.
During my travels, I have also seen 7-tier altars in private homes, but these always make me gasp since I know how much preparation they take and how costly they can be.
Tier 1
An image of a saint to which the altar is dedicated is placed here. In Mexico, it's common to see images of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Jesus, or the patron saint of the local town.
Tier 2
This level is reserved for the souls in purgatory. According to Catholic tradition, the souls must undergo purification before being allowed into heaven, but this tier is intended to allow the souls of the deceased to obtain permission to leave. A cup of water is place here to represent purity.
Tier 3
Salt is placed here to symbolize the purification of the souls in purgatory, especially children.
Tier 4
Day of the Dead bread or "pan de muerto" is placed here as an offering for the visiting souls.
Tier 5
The deceased's favorite dishes and fruits are placed here as an offering.
Tier 6
Pictures of the deceased are placed here to honor their memory and to ensure that they are never forgotten.
Tier 7
A Christian cross made of seeds, fruits, flowers, or candles is placed here so that the deceased can atone for their sins.
Together, the seven levels represent the seven deadly sins and the steps the spirit must go through to reach peace and eternal rest.
The Elements of an Altar and their Meaning
Arch
The arch represents the passageway between the world of the living and the dead. Located at the top of the altar, it is traditionally decorated using marigolds, but can vary in style from state to state.
Candles
Traditionally, white candles are used to light the path of our loved ones back home. Purple candles can also be used to represent mourning and the connection between the living and the dead. In some indigenous communities, the number of candles on the altar represents the number of souls that the family will be receiving.
Copal
Similar to amber, copal is a light-yellow tree resin that resembles incense and has been used since pre-Hispanic times. The aroma is used to attract our loved ones so they can find us on Day of the Dead.
Dirt or Ash
The dirt or ash element comes from the Catholic teaching "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Some altars include a sand cross to represent this philosophy.
Flowers
Native to Mexico, the cempasúchil or marigold is recognized as the ceremonial Day of the Dead flower and must be included on every altar.
As Mexicans, we believe that the scent and bright orange color of this flower guides the spirits of our loved ones back home. So, we sprinkle a path of petals and abundantly cover our altars with cempasúchil.
After marigolds, the second most popular flower is a red blossom known as "cockscomb" in English and "cresta de gallo" in Spanish. In Mexico, they also call it "flor de terciopelo" or the "velvet flower" because it is soft to touch and is said to bring comfort after losing a loved one. This particular flower can be found in deep shades of carmine red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, is edible, and has nutritional properties.
Food and Beverages
In Mexico, when you receive a loved one or friend, you must always offer them something to eat or drink. The same applies for the dead, which is why we place their favorite foods and drinks on the altar.
It is common to see tequila, beer, mezcal, and Coca Cola on altars in Mexico.
And in regions with more intact indigenous communities like Michoacán, Oaxaca, and Puebla, it's also common to see mole negro with chicken and sesame seeds or tamales de mole because these are celebratory dishes that are meant for fiestas.
People often wonder what to do with the food on the altar after Día de Muertos. Although, there isn't a clear rule, Iearned that some families toss the food, while others eat it after the deceased have had a chance to taste the offerings. Those who do eat the food told me that it loses flavor because they believe their loved ones enjoyed the offerings.
Monarch Butterflies
The Purépecha natives of Michoacán believe monarch butterflies are the souls of the dead coming to visit us.
Although monarch butterflies are not a traditional element required on the altar, I always include them in honor of my grandmother, Tita Susana, who was from Michoacán.
Whenever I see monarch butterflies I feel my grandmother's presence and love surrounding me.
It really is magical to think about how monarch butterflies migrate all the way from Canada to my grandmother's home state in central Mexico arriving just in time for Día de Muertos. Just like the souls of the dead, monarch butterflies also love the strong scent of marigolds.
Pan de Muerto {Bread of the Dead}
Pan de muerto, which translates to "bread of the dead" can only be found during Day of the Dead season.
It's made with wheat flour, egg, sugar, orange peels, and anise topped with dough shaped like cross bones and covered in sugar.
During my travels, I learned there are many variations of this traditional bread. In Mexico City, some bakeries sell a version called "pan de totomoxtle," which is made from burning cornhusks into black ash. The dark smokey color is a fun interpretation that some say resembles the ashes of the dead.
Papel Picado
Papel Picado is a must on any Day of the Dead altar. Colorful tissue paper garlands, cut into intricate designs, can often be found spotted on the streets of Mexico.
During Day of the Dead, papel picado serves as a symbol of the fragility of life. The yellow and purple colors often used during Día de Muertos symbolize purity and mourning, and it is believed that the holes in the tissue paper make it possible for the souls to travel to visit us. When the wind blows, it creates an especially magical and spiritual feeling reminding us that the season has arrived and our ancestors are coming.
Personal Items
Personal items make each altar unique. If the deceased had a favorite necklace, book, or jacket, relatives can add it to the altar for their personal enjoyment. Any object that reminds you of your loved one that can help recreate their essence is appropriate to place on the altar ahead of their arrival.
Photographs
Photos are one of the most important elements on the altar. Photographs allow the deceased to recognize their home and to see that their loved ones have reserved a place for them. This keeps their memory alive and allows for the future generations to learn more about their ancestors.
Rug or Mat
A rug or mat is used for the souls to rest when they arrive. A petate is a traditional rug, woven from the fibers of palm and is often used for making beds and tables. In Pre-Hispanic times, the deceased were often buried in them and during revolutionary times, they were used as a substitute for coffins. They have also been used as a place of rest for those who are experiencing their last moments before death.
Saints and Religious Symbols
Due to Spanish colonization, Mexico has become a dominantly Catholic country. This is why you'll find many altars that include crosses, saints, and la Virgen de Guadalupe.
Personally, I always like to include La Virgen de Guadalupe for my grandmother, Tita Susana, who was an active member of her church and the Guadalupana Society, a religious association comprised of Mexican women who carry out acts of charity and are devoted to honoring the Virgen de Guadalupe.
Salt
Salt is often used for purification. In Day of the Dead altars, it's included as a symbol to prevent the body of the dead from becoming contaminated during their journey to the land of the living, and so they can return again the following year.
Sugar Skulls
During Day of the Dead, we place sugar skulls on our altars with the names of the deceased to honor our loved one who have passed. Smaller skulls are used to represent children, while larger ones represent adults.
Traditionally, they are made from sugar and alfeñique paste using clay molds, but you can also find them made of chocolate and amaranth. You can often personalize the sugar skull with the name of the deceased.
Sugar skulls are not just for the dead though. They can also be gifted to the living with their name added as a way to save a palce for them in Mictlán (the underworld). If someone gives you a sugar skull with your name on it, do not be alarmed! It's just another way to say "I love you."
Tablecloth
Every altar should be layered with a tablecloth, preferably white, to symbolize both the purity of or loved one's soul, and our joy that they are coming.
Today, modern altars use different styles if textiles that might present the stories and history of their family members. For example, I used a dark beige Otomí tablecloth draped with a sarape in honor of my grandfather who was from Saltillo, Coahuila where sarape textiles are made.
Toys
When a child is honored on an altar, it is common for the parents to display their favorite toys so that they can play with them when they arrive.
Water
Water is an extremely important element that should never be absent from the altar. Used to quench the thirst of the spirits after their long journey, it is believed to be the first thing the spirits look for. Some suggest that after Día de Muertos, the water in the glass gets lower, proving that their loved ones have visited.
Xoloitzcuintle Mexican Spirit Dog
In Pre-Hispanic times, Xoloitzcuintles, more commonly known as "the Mexican hairless dog," were believed to be spirit dogs that helped guide the deceased through the nine levels of Mictlán in the afterlife. According to Aztec mythology, the word "Xolotl" means "god of lightning, fire, and death" and "itzcuintli" means "dog.
Many consider the 3,000-year-old "Xolo" (pronounced sholo for short), to be a strange and ugly looking dog. Today, it is in danger of extinction. But in Mexico, the dog is revered as a symbol and emblem of the Pre-Hispanic culture that must be honored.
Traditionally, a Xoloitzcuintle dog figure is added to the altar to guide the souls back to us across the river from the land of the dead. The purpose of the Xoloitzcuintle is to guard humanity in life and to guide the dead in the afterlife.
UNESCO Recognizes Day of the Dead as a Masterpiece
On November 7, 2003, UNESCO proclaimed Mexico’s indigenous festival dedicated to the dead as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
STAY TUNED FOR MY BOOK LAUNCH
For more information on these beautiful traditions and a more detailed guide on the meaning behind the altar, make sure to stay tuned for my book "Day of the Dead: Mexico's Celebration of Life" which launches in fall 2025.
About the Author
LUISA NAVARRO
Mexican-American journalist, former national news producer, and graduate of Boston College and Columbia University School of Journalism. Her mission is to shed more light on the beauty and traditions of Mexican culture. This website is dedicated to her grandmothers, Tita Susana and Tita Lupita, who taught her to be proud of her heritage and to always remember where her ancestors came from.
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