Building a Day of the Dead Altar
picture from google
The altars are dedicated to love ones who passed away; a son,daughter, father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, relative, friend, teacher,classmate, etc. Also could honor someone admired and popular like people in the entertainment, business, politics, sports, etc.
On the altars people place 'ofrendas' (offerings). They believe that the person for whom the altar is dedicated to would come back for that special day, and they will enjoy all their favorite things. Relatives get prepared to host him/her as a very special guest.
The altar should have three levels. The first level should be to place food that the departed use to like; bread (pan de muerto), desserts, main dishes, candies, drinks, and also; cigarettes (if he/she liked to smoke), liquor (if they liked it). On this level you can place small representations of objects the deceased enjoy or that pertained to his/her career; cars, musical instruments, video games, shoes, clothing, movies, etc.
The second level is for objects with more spiritual meaning: salt (purify), candles (fire), incense (to clear the path of bad spirits), yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (the strong aroma of these flowers lead the path of the souls to their homes), flowers, water (cleanse), and an arch made of flowers (signifies the door that separates both worlds).
The third level is for the picture of the departed soul and it should be place right on the center.
People place candy skulls or masks all around the altar this is to scare away strange and bad souls.
*"Public schools at all levels build altars with ofrendas, usually omitting the religious symbols"
On the altars people place 'ofrendas' (offerings). They believe that the person for whom the altar is dedicated to would come back for that special day, and they will enjoy all their favorite things. Relatives get prepared to host him/her as a very special guest.
The altar should have three levels. The first level should be to place food that the departed use to like; bread (pan de muerto), desserts, main dishes, candies, drinks, and also; cigarettes (if he/she liked to smoke), liquor (if they liked it). On this level you can place small representations of objects the deceased enjoy or that pertained to his/her career; cars, musical instruments, video games, shoes, clothing, movies, etc.
The second level is for objects with more spiritual meaning: salt (purify), candles (fire), incense (to clear the path of bad spirits), yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (the strong aroma of these flowers lead the path of the souls to their homes), flowers, water (cleanse), and an arch made of flowers (signifies the door that separates both worlds).
The third level is for the picture of the departed soul and it should be place right on the center.
People place candy skulls or masks all around the altar this is to scare away strange and bad souls.
*"Public schools at all levels build altars with ofrendas, usually omitting the religious symbols"