The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated between October 31 and November 2 each year. Drawing on both indigenous and Catholic traditions, Día de los Meurtos festivities remember, celebrate, and welcome back the spirits of dead loved ones. Family members build altars (ofrendas) to honor their ancestors and visit cemeteries to clean and decorate grave sites. Though individual traditions can vary from place to place, most Día de los Muertos festivities generally take on a happy, celebratory tone, instead of a mournful one.
Our family does not have Mexican roots, but we are Catholic and our family has been for many, many generations. All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2) are a big deal in the Catholic faith. These days give us a chance to remember and honor our loved ones who are deceased, and I just love the Mexican traditions during the Day of the Dead of filling these days with music, dance, parades, food, prayer, and memories. And I think celebrating the memories of those who have passed on can be a very positive and healing experience for all people, especially children.
Last year, we spent a day in Cozumel, Mexico, and one of the villages we visited had a traditional ofrenda on display. It's important to say that these ofrendas are NOT made in order to worship ancestors; they are made to honor them and remember them.
Our family does not have Mexican roots, but we are Catholic and our family has been for many, many generations. All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2) are a big deal in the Catholic faith. These days give us a chance to remember and honor our loved ones who are deceased, and I just love the Mexican traditions during the Day of the Dead of filling these days with music, dance, parades, food, prayer, and memories. And I think celebrating the memories of those who have passed on can be a very positive and healing experience for all people, especially children.
Last year, we spent a day in Cozumel, Mexico, and one of the villages we visited had a traditional ofrenda on display. It's important to say that these ofrendas are NOT made in order to worship ancestors; they are made to honor them and remember them.
Authentic Mexican Ofrenda
This year, as late Oct and early November approached, I decided that my kids and I would try to create our own ancestor ofrenda and share it with you.
We used several online sources (links below) to help us learn what to include in our ofrenda. However, from what I have read, it seems that there is no 'wrong' way to create an ofrenda to honor your ancestor(s), and that every family has their own style and uses their own ideas and creativity to do it.
The Day of the Dead Ofrenda from Inside Mexico
Build a Day of the Dead Ofrenda to Honor Your Departed Loved Ones from Zinnia Folk Arts
How To Make a Day of the Dead Altar from TripSavvy
So, here is a photo of our ofrenda. We covered a bench with a white bed sheet and placed a large photograph of our ancestor (my grandmother, my kids' great-grandmother) in the center. We've included bread, water, salt, and fruit, along with various symbols of our Catholic faith, such as a cross, a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a rosary. We also have scented candles, which we lit (with adult supervision only!). We included one of my grandmother's books, because she loved to read, and a deck of playing cards, because she also enjoyed card parties with her friends. You can also include a few smaller photos, if you like.
We used several online sources (links below) to help us learn what to include in our ofrenda. However, from what I have read, it seems that there is no 'wrong' way to create an ofrenda to honor your ancestor(s), and that every family has their own style and uses their own ideas and creativity to do it.
The Day of the Dead Ofrenda from Inside Mexico
Build a Day of the Dead Ofrenda to Honor Your Departed Loved Ones from Zinnia Folk Arts
How To Make a Day of the Dead Altar from TripSavvy
So, here is a photo of our ofrenda. We covered a bench with a white bed sheet and placed a large photograph of our ancestor (my grandmother, my kids' great-grandmother) in the center. We've included bread, water, salt, and fruit, along with various symbols of our Catholic faith, such as a cross, a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a rosary. We also have scented candles, which we lit (with adult supervision only!). We included one of my grandmother's books, because she loved to read, and a deck of playing cards, because she also enjoyed card parties with her friends. You can also include a few smaller photos, if you like.
Traditional ofrendas are decorated with cempasúchitl flowers, sometimes known as Mexican marigolds. We used some orange-colored silk flowers instead of real ones, but I still think it looks nice. You can also use mums, which are easy to find during this time of the year. Mexican ofrendas also typically include colorful papel picado banners. It is easy to make simple banners using string and tissue paper, but I found a good deal on Amazon for a small pre-made banner.
Day of the Dead ofrendas are also often decorated with artistic representations of human skulls, also known as calaveras or sugar skulls, because they are often made of candy or dough and edible. We did not make sugar skulls, but we did color some paper ones to include on our ofrenda. I found a public domain image of a black-and-white calavera, so I copied it to a document (in two sizes) and made a printable for you to download.
Day of the Dead ofrendas are also often decorated with artistic representations of human skulls, also known as calaveras or sugar skulls, because they are often made of candy or dough and edible. We did not make sugar skulls, but we did color some paper ones to include on our ofrenda. I found a public domain image of a black-and-white calavera, so I copied it to a document (in two sizes) and made a printable for you to download.
Here are a few other links at which you can download sugar skull templates or other free Day of the Dead printables and activities for kids:
Free Printable Dia de los Muertos Coloring Page
Day of the Dead Printable Craft
Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull Boxes
Free Day of the Dead Printable
Day of the Dead Felt Craft for Kids
Elementary-Level Day of the Dead Vocabulary Worksheet & Word Search
And, of course, don't forget that your local library likely has some great kid-friendly picture books about Day of the Dead festivities and what they mean. Some of these are bilingual, too, so they are great if you are trying to introduce your child(ren) to Spanish. I've featured a few below:
Free Printable Dia de los Muertos Coloring Page
Day of the Dead Printable Craft
Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull Boxes
Free Day of the Dead Printable
Day of the Dead Felt Craft for Kids
Elementary-Level Day of the Dead Vocabulary Worksheet & Word Search
And, of course, don't forget that your local library likely has some great kid-friendly picture books about Day of the Dead festivities and what they mean. Some of these are bilingual, too, so they are great if you are trying to introduce your child(ren) to Spanish. I've featured a few below:
The Day of the Dead / El Día De Los Muertos by Bob Barner, Illustrated by Teresa Mlawer
Día De Los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by Carles Ballesteros
I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story by Janice Levy, illustrated by Loretta Lopez
The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Bracegirdle, illustrated by Poly Bernatene
Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead by Judy Goldman, illustrated by Rene King Moreno
Does your family regularly participate in Day of the Dead festivities? If so, I'd love to hear about your traditions and see photos! As always, thank you for reading!
©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
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