A Dia de los Muertos ofrenda (November 1-2, 2024)

More about A Dia de los Muertos ofrenda (November 1-2, 2024)

Posted a day early for DiversitySaturday
Dia de los Muertos falls on the night when the veil between the living and the dead is said to be the thinnest (called All Souls Night in the Christian tradition).
The ofrenda (offering) is an alter that is filled with items of attraction and welcome. It is fueled with the power of the four elements of nature to help the spirits of deceased loved ones find their way back to the living world:
Water, to quench the spirits' thirst.
Earth, represented by food: pan de muerto (bread of the dead) which feeds the souls with the aroma of the harvest, and sugar skulls (also known as calaveras/calaveritas) which symbolize the sweetness of life and death.
Fire, represented by lit candles, to help guide the soul from the darkness of the underworld.
Air, represented by tissue paper banners (papel picado) cut into lacy shapes, which move easily even in a tiny breath of wind.
Also, many marigold flowers (the official flower of Día de los Muertos) are included in an ofrenda, because they attract the dead to the altar with their scent.

You can read about the historical significance of marigolds here: https://libguides.ollusa.edu/diadelosmuertos/marigolds