What do Ofrendas represent?An Ofrenda is a home altar with a collection of objects placed on a ritual display during Day of the Dead celebrations. One of the largest themes of Día de los Muertos is remembrance. There are different beliefs across time and space about what happens when the dead are not remembered (intentionally or not) by the living. Some believe that forgetting the dead will cause them to haunt and torment their living descendants. Some believe that remembering them is a way to honor those who, despite being dead, are still with us and should be treated as so.
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Layered Altars The Aztec's long-lasting influence has led to a traditional seven-layered ofrenda. The seven layers, or levels, represent the seven destinations a soul must travel and cross to reach eternal rest at Mictlán, where the guardian of the Land of the Dead, Mictēcacihuātl, resides. Other altars contain three layers, which may symbolize the sky or heaven, earth, and the underworld, while two-layered altars may symbolize earth and sky. Regardless of the ofrenda’s size, common symbols such as religious symbols, the deceased’s picture, Pan de Muerto, sugar skulls, drinks - and other items favored by the deceased - candles, marigold, and salt reappear throughout.
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OfferingsFamilies honor and connect with their loved ones through Ofrendas: different offerings left for the deceased include items that represent the four elements: earth, wind, water, and fire.
Food aromas prepared from newly harvested crops represent earth, while the fluttering of papel picado in the breeze represent wind. Water quenches the souls’ thirst. Burning candles that guide the souls’ home or represents the souls’ themselves, symbolizes fire. Ofrendas vary per person or family due to different personal tastes of the deceased and those honoring them. |
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Add a message to our ofrenda!
Our mission was to inspire our audience to appreciate the beauty and culture of Day of the Dead.
If you would like to contribute to this project, click on the link below to send us a message honoring a loved one, and we will add your message to our ofrenda. If you wish stay anonymous, please include "- Anonymous" at the end of your message.
We welcome poems, prayers, letters, and any quotes or thoughts you may have regarding your loved one.
If you would like to contribute to this project, click on the link below to send us a message honoring a loved one, and we will add your message to our ofrenda. If you wish stay anonymous, please include "- Anonymous" at the end of your message.
We welcome poems, prayers, letters, and any quotes or thoughts you may have regarding your loved one.