ofrenda

ofrenda, decorated altar set up in homes for the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) holiday as celebrated in Mexico and neighboring parts of Latin America as well as across the United States. This distinctive offering table, constructed especially for the holiday, honors and welcomes the deceased with photos, candles, flowers, food, and other decorations.

Background

The Day of the Dead combines elements of pre-Hispanic ritual and religion with influences of Roman Catholicism, particularly the holidays All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, on November 1 and 2, respectively. It is believed that, during the Day of the Dead celebrations on November 1–2, the souls of friends and family members who have died return to the world of the living for a visit to those left behind. The ofrendas for this holiday are usually set up by October 31 and are taken down after the holiday on November 2, although specific local or family traditions vary, as does personal preference. In recent times it has also become popular for participants to include photographs of pets on their ofrendas and to celebrate deceased cats, dogs, and other beloved animals in the Day of the Dead festivities.

Construction and decoration

The style, shape, and ornamentation of ofrendas is largely up to individual celebrants, but there are many traditions that are typical. An ofrenda may have a single level or multiple levels or steps. It is typically covered by a cloth. In Mexico the ofrenda is often draped with a serape, a long, often colorful woolen shawl. Although ofrendas are typically moderately sized and located in private homes, they may also be set up in public, sometimes in grand fashion, in cities across Mexico.

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Orange or yellow Aztec, or Mexican, marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta) are regarded as essential ornaments on an ofrenda. Called cempasúchil (from Nahuatl: cempohualxochitl) or flor de muerto in Spanish, the marigold’s strong scent is thought to assist the deceased in locating the altar. In addition, incense is burned, adding to the altar’s aroma. Sweets are offered to the dearly departed: Especially popular are sugar cookies in the shape of skulls (calaveras), which are sometimes inscribed with the name of a person who died. Other foods on an ofrenda may include corn (maize), fruit, chocolate, and a special bread called pan de muerto that is marked with a cross. It is thought that the deceased get hungry on their journey back to the world of the living, so they need sustenance.

Symbolism of the traditional four elements—earth, water, fire, and air—are incorporated into the ofrenda’s collection of objects. The food offered is said to represent earth. Water, which symbolizes purification, is also made available for the returning dead. Fire is represented by candles. The altar or the area around it is often adorned with colorful bits of paper called papel picado, which are designed with cutouts and perforations; this decorative paper represents air or wind, because air and wind can pass through it.

Other characteristic decorations on an ofrenda include photographs of the departed, which are said to serve a dual purpose—both reminding participants of those they are honoring and indicating to the dead that they are duly remembered. Objects of importance to the deceased may also be displayed. Christian iconography, such as images of the Virgin Mary or other saints, can also be seen on ofrendas. Salt, sometimes in the shape of a cross, is generally interpreted as signifying purification. Also decking the ofrenda are finely clothed skeletal figurines (calacas), which some people regard as a reminder of our mortality.