Small dia de los muertos altar how to#

To keep their memory alive by celebrating them and sharing their stories. The most important thing is to honor and remember your loved ones that have passed. These are guidelines to help you get started. While traveling through Mexico you will find that different regions have different customs and beliefs tied to these very special days. There is no wrong way to build an altar or celebrate a loved one. If you have several photos, you can place them on the other levels as wellĥ – Add a candle next to each of your photosĦ – You can place any personal belongings of the departed next to their photosħ– You may choose to place your family member’s favorite drink next to their pictureĨ – Add in the sugar skulls, marigolds, extra candles, water, and food on the lower levels in pleasing arrangementĩ – Place the incense on the center of the lower level, making sure it has plenty of room to breathġ0 – Think of your family members and friends as you light each of the candles We got all of ours from Native Poppy! How gorgeous is this garland?!įollow these steps to create your own Day of the Dead altar: While there are traditional ways of placing items on the altar depending on the given days during the season, we’ll keep it simple if it's your first time.ġ – Arrange the boxes, crates or books on your table to create levelsĢ – Place the colorful tablecloth over the table and boxesģ – Hang papel picado over your altar or drape on the edge of your tableĤ – Place your photos on the highest level. Sometimes petals are used to form a path on the ground from the door to the altar. Marigolds are used to guide the departed back home with their strong scent and bright color. They’re used to poke fun at death, in celebration, traditionally having the deceased’s name on the forehead. Sugar skulls are iconic mementos that represent both life and death, as they are placed on altars and given to the living. Their favorite objects or mementos that remind you of them. Pictures of the family members and friends you’d like to celebrate and honor are placed on the altar. Copal incense is burned because it is believed to attract spirits, and believed to ward off evil and cleanse the area of an altar. Traditionally copal, but any form of incense would work. Your ancestor’s favorite drink, tequila, mezcal, beer (if they didn’t drink, no need for the last few =) … but what celebration of life in Mexico doesn’t include MEZCAL?!) Pan de muerto, representative of the earth, is a traditional sweet bread baked especially for Día de los Muertos decorated bones and skulls made of dough. The favorite dishes of each of your deceased family members, in addition to traditional ‘ pan de muerto’, seasonal fruits, chocolates, candies. Water is put out to satiate the thirst of the visitors on their long journey. A candle is put out for each person that has passed and an extra for anyone that you might have forgotten.

Ĭandles, representative of fire, are put out to light the path for the spirits to return. String up your papel picado over your ofrenda or drape in front of your table.

Papel picado, representative of wind, are delicately cut tissue paper. These add color and can cover the table and the boxes/crates. You can use a table as your base and add boxes, crates, or books to create multiple levels. Supplies you'll need to make a Day of the Dead altar: While in many regions of Mexico these altars begin taking form on or around October 28th, they are completed just in time for the celebration on November 2nd. Traditional altars range in size and scope with up to 7 tiers, representing the 7 levels the soul must traverse to get to its final resting place, all filled with flowers, food, drinks, water, pictures, and other special mementos.

Small dia de los muertos altar how to#

With the altar being the most visibly recognized aspect of the Day of the Dead celebrations, we wanted to show you how to create a small version in celebration of those near to your heart who have passed. We share a bit of the history of Día de Muertos and why we love celebrating here. Here we will show you how we set up this altar for Chef Marcela in memory of her mother. With just a couple weeks left before Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), we wanted to give you some tips on how to set up your own celebration altar.