Before the ofrenda is built, the house is thoroughly cleaned and a good table cloth is laid. If you feel inspired to explore your connections with your ancestors, Ancestry has billions of records, including a Latin America records collection.ĭiscover more about your ancestor’s lives with Ancestry today.As part of their Day of the Dead traditions, families set up ofrendas (altars) in their homes and/or in public places to honor their deceased loved ones. Celebrate Your Loved Onesĭía de los Muertos is a time to remember your loved ones, to pass on their stories and keep their memories alive. This information could help you jump start a conversation to learn so much more. #Dia de los muertos altar steps licenseYou could for instance, find your grandmother’s marriage license that would tell you not only what year she married but how old she was, where she got married, and even details like her parents’ names. A marriage license for a couple in Hidalgo, Mexico. One tool that could help you uncover details about your family’s past and enrich your celebration of your family stories is records found on Ancestry. It's a great time to talk with your family about your ancestors and other deceased loved ones, to learn more about their stories. The Day of the Dead is a time to reflect on those who've come before you. Water: Water is always placed on the ofrenda to symbolize life, and to quench souls’ thirst after the long journey. For instance, purple can symbolize mourning or grief and pink can represent celebration. The color of the paper can also be symbolic. The paper can represent the fragile nature of life, the cut-outs a way for the souls to travel through and visit the living. As with so many elements of this celebration, papel picado is immersed in symbolism. Tissue paper ( Papel picado ): Colorful tissue paper with intricate cut-outs, papel picado, is commonly used in decorations for Día de los Muertos. These skulls are part of ofrendas but can also be given as gifts to the living, with the recipient’s name inscribed on the forehead. And the sugar can be considered symbolic of life’s sweetness. The skulls represent those who have passed. Sugar skulls ( Calaveras de azucar ): Brightly decorated sugar skulls, or calaveras de azucar, are one of the most iconic symbols of Día de los Muertos. It’s thought by some to quench the thirst of souls, by others to help purify them. It is often set out in the pattern of a cross. Salt: Salt is an element that is common in Día de los Muertos ofrendas. These flowers are often scattered around the ofrenda or even arranged into a cross. Marigolds ( Cempasuchitl): Marigolds, or as the Aztecs called them cempasuchitl, are known as “flor de muerto,” or “flowers of the dead.” They are a key part of ofrendas, and their scent is believed to beckon souls to the altar. The scent of the incense is said to draw in the souls of the departed. Traditionally the incense is made of tree resin, in particular the aromatic resin from the copal tree. Incense: Burning incense as part of an ofrenda is very common. Often they are placed in the form of a cross. But here are a few common elements you can use in your ofrenda:Ĭandles: Lighting candles can help guide your ancestors to their ofrenda. Like many Día de los Muertos traditions, customs related to ofrendas can vary. When building their ofrendas, people place pictures of their loved ones, along with decorations, and often food and drink offerings. Dia de los Muertos altar by Eneas de Troya One of the most common Día de los Muertos traditions is to build an altar to honor your ancestors, whose souls return to celebrate with the living. Set up an altar (ofrenda) for your ancestors.
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