Day of the Dead: How to form an altar?

In pre-Hispanic times the cult of death was one of the basic elements of the culture, when someone died, they were buried wrapped in a “petate” and their relatives organized a party in order to guide them on their way to eternal rest. In the same way, they placed food in an altar for them, with the belief that they might feel hungry.

The Day of the Dead in the Mexican indigenous vision implies the transitory return of the souls of the deceased, who return home, to spend time with family members and to enjoy what is offered to them at altars.

There are different types of altars in Mexico, however, there are pre-Hispanic elements that should not be missing since they are included for a specific purpose.

Five elements that cannot be missing in an altar:

– The altar must have 3 levels: The 3 levels symbolize heaven, limbo and earth, which make up the journey that our loved ones make to reach us on the day of the dead.

– Cempasúchil flower: a cempasúchil flower path is left as an offering and decoration, this path will be with the intention that loved ones can find the path to the family altar.

– Regional gastronomy: Among the most traditional ones are  pan de muerto, sugar skulls, mole, tamales, pozole, caña, empanadas and pumpkin sweets.

– Salt and white tablecloth: these are considered purifiers of the soul of the deceased, which allows them to pass from the world of the dead, to ours. The white tablecloth dresses the 3 levels of the altar. The salt marks a path to the altar, along with the flowers.