How to Create a Day of the Dead Altar for your Holiday Decor
Mexico has a holiday called Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. In Mexico, you will find altars with offerings for loved ones who have passed away, decorated with beautiful colors, showing them they are remembered. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of creating a Dia De Los Muertos altar and give you some great decoration ideas! This would also make for a beautiful Halloween decoration.
Create The Altar
The Ofrenda should have multiple layers. Create this using a base table and adding crates or boxes. Then cover the various layers with bright-colored tablecloths, serapes, or blankets.
Add the Flowers
Marigolds are the most common flower seen on an altar; they are said to bring the departed back home with their strong scent and bright colors. You can also find beautiful faux garlands and even craft a lovely arrangement out of paper. We also included Bindle & Brass brightly colored birch branches and pampas grass, located at your local Home Depot, to amplify color and sparkle.
Make the Offerings
To replenish your loved ones from their long journey, including some of their favorite food, like oranges, chips, and salsa. You could even include dried foods like wheat, oats, and chili peppers to make the ofrenda last longer than a day.
Include Memories
Add photos of your loved ones; they could be of recent members who have crossed or include generations of family photos and even pets. Also, including pictures of saints, especially Virgen of Guadalupe, pays homage to the Catholic influence of the original Aztecan holiday.
Illuminate
Candles should be abundant; it is believed that they help guide the spirits home and represent hope and faith. You can use flameless candles to keep your altar safe from children and pets.
Incorporate the Details
Adding in all those tiny details brings the altar life. Use Calaveras for remembering life and death, paper banners to add color and represent wind elements, and butterflies to portray spirits.
The altar is complete with these steps and can be enjoyed for your celebration. We wanted to enhance our ofrenda and include a happy couple.
Life is precious and fleeting. The Day of the Dead honors that while also celebrating life in all its beauty. It is a time for remembering the souls of those we have lost. If you want to do something different this Halloween, look no further than Day of the Dead altars!
