1, my family celebrates it by praying the rosary, singing a couple of songs and telling stories. The bag is to remember her love of shopping.Īnd, of course, a Day of the Dead altar is not complete without the Mexican household staple - a Herradura or Don Julio bottle.Īfter we have gathered the things to remember her by, we compile the basics included in an altar - “Pan de Muerto,” or bread of the dead, a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, candles, skulls and more.Īll these things are included to make sure the soul of our grandma feels welcomed when she visits our shrine and to show that we have not forgotten her.Īlthough I never met my grandma, I hear her footsteps on the barely-there pavement of my mom’s childhood home I picture her carrying her bag to mass on Sundays and I imagine her having a laugh over a shot of her favorite alcohol. The shoes are for remembering how she danced to traditional Mexican music in the streets of the little town she grew up in. These little things let the spirits from the land of the dead pass by to visit their family.Ī week before November, my grandpa comes all the way from Durango, Mexico and brings us my grandmother’s favorite pair of shoes, a bag, and a tequila bottle to put on the altar. A grown woman’s altar may include many things, such as makeup or a ring, and a child’s altar will contain things like toys or their favorite outfit. There are many similarities between altars, but what is special about the Day of the Dead’s altars is that they honor each specific person and the life they lived. The pecked paper seems to have different meanings, but some say the paper holes are for the spirits to move through, and to others, the flowy paper represents how spirits move through the air. The cempasúchil flowers are bright, gold marigolds native to Mexico that are said, with their distinct odor, to lead the dead to their altar. Ortiz spoke about the significance of a few traditional items found on Día de los Muertos altars and the meaning behind each.Each little thing prepared on the altar holds its own special meaning. 'Día de los Muertos is important because it helps us remember why life is so precious, and honor our ancestors that came before us.' 'We as human beings try to hold on to memories and reflecting our loved ones,' Ortiz said. 2, marks All Souls' Day, which recognizes the adults who have died. 1, also known as Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), which celebrates the children who have passed away in the last year. Over the years, the holiday has interwoven with Catholic traditions marking the start of All Saints' Day on Nov. The origins of Día de los Muertos can be traced back to the Aztecs, according to Houston artist Lizbeth Ortiz, a curator with MECA and the Hardy & Nance Art Studio in Houston. It's a time-honored tradition, especially in Latin culture, but also acknowledged across other regions. To many, it may seem like just another part of Halloween celebrations, but it's important to acknowledge that this sacred holiday has nothing to do with All Hallows' Eve.

The framed photo of my mother, the mantel (tablecloth) my abuelita sewed, my grandfather's harmonica, a plate of pan dulce - these are the items that adorn my ofrenda (altar) as I honor the memory of my family in celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday known as Día de los Muertos.

This story was originally published in October 2020 and updated in October 2021.

Traditional dia de los muertos altar