Altars dedicated to Selena, for example, almost always have a pepperoni pizza, because as her biopic notes, the singer could scarf down an entire medium pepperoni pizza by herself. Fruits known for their fragrant nature are also placed on the ofrenda. While mole is a popular choice for ofrendas, you can display any kind of food as long as it’s one the difunto enjoyed. Water can symbolize the purity of the soul and the source of life. Drinks and FoodĮveryone’s drink and food section will vary, but water, which quenches the soul’s thirst, is necessary. Papel picado is associated with wind, because when the difunto has arrived the paper will move, alerting the host to their presence. The color yellow represents life, purple stands in for death, and orange serves as the union between life and death. Papel picado – a thin sheet of colorful paper with elaborate cut-out designs, such as animals, pumpkins, and skeletons – decorates the altar. GIF by Itzel Alejandra Martinez for Remezcla Decorated skulls made from sugar, called calaveras, and pan de muerto (bread for the dead) are prepared at the time of Da de los Muertos and placed on peoples. While no two ofrendas are alike, here is a eight-step guide to get you started. But they should represent the four elements: fire (candles), wind (papel picado), earth (food), and water. The beauty of these altars is they can take any shape and are highly customizable. But it’s not rare to see ofrendas honoring celebrities, especially those we feel we know firsthand. Centered around the photos of a loved one, ofrendas typically commemorate those you knew personally. You can build ofrendas, which include items that reveal a little into the person you’re celebrating, anywhere within your home. Each family member contributes by talking about their history. Not only do they unite the living and the dead, they’re also a space to share stories. Rooted in pre-Hispanic traditions and mixed with elements of Christianity, the ofrendas – which can consist of several levels, depending on space – are a place of gathering. The ofrenda must be in place by October 31, because at night, the deceased pop in for one night. In some countries, people spend the day at the cemetery visiting and cleaning the grave of the difunto. But in Mexico, an altar – or an ofrenda – is one of the main focal points of the holiday. Taking place between Halloween and All Souls Day, Día de Muertos celebrations take many forms across the Americas. Every November 2, known as the Day of the Dead or All Souls Day, Hispanics across the Southwest transform grave sites. Defying death, they make fun of her by eating it.From October 31 to November 2, people across Latin America lovingly memorialize their deceased relatives and friends in a joyous ceremony. The phenomena is treated with respect and irony. José Luis Curiel Monteagudo, in his book Azucarados Afanes, Dulces y Panes, says, “To eat pan de muertos is for the Mexican a true pleasure, considering the cannibalism of bread and sugar. Traditional day of the dead altar with pan de. This is the origin of today’s pan de muertos, which has regional variants across Mexico. On November 1 ( Da de los Inocentes ), deceased children are offered toys and sweets, while November 2 sees ofrendas for deceased adults, such as alcohol, cigarettes and football shirts, as well as the more generic candles, Mexican cempaschiles ( marigolds) and pan de muerto (sweet bread). They forced the substitution of bread for the heart, shaped in the form of a corazón and painted in a glaze of red sugar. The Spanish, of course, aimed to put a stop to this non-Christian behavior when they arrived to conquer Mexico at the beginning of the 16th century. This is the origin of today’s pan de muertos, which has regional variants across Mexico. Pan de muertos is one of the most important elements of an ofrenda, with a long history extending to prehispanic times.Īztecs, during their sacrifice rituals, would cut the still-beating heart from the chests of the sacrificed. It’s eaten by the living, as well as left as an offering on the altar for the returning dead. This type of sweet bread is only sold in the weeks leading up to the Día de Muertos.
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