Día de los Muertos is, for some, one of the most sacred times of the year. With roots in pre-Columbian Mexico, Día de los Muertos is celebrated by Mexican, Mexican-American, and Latinx communities to honor the dead. Though remembering the dead is often associated with sadness and grief, this holiday is a vibrant occasion that occurs on November 1 and 2.
This year, Día de los Muertos occurs on the same day as the New Moon in Scorpio, making the energy extremely intense. Since Scorpio is the sign of death and transformation, we’ll be experiencing more visits from the great beyond than usual, allowing us to reflect deeply on the past, those we’ve lost, and our own mortality. Connecting with spirits will be more accessible due to the thinning of the veil between the physical and metaphysical worlds.
Creating an ofrenda — or altar — for the spirits to come back to earth is an essential part of the holiday, showing respect and remembrance of your loved ones. These altars also offer them a safe place to come and connect with the human world. In her bestselling book Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic, Bri Luna, of The Hoodwitch, explains how to set up an altar at any time of year, but the guide is particularly handy this week.
"Setting up a Día de los Muertos altar is a beautiful way to honor your loved ones who have passed while celebrating our cultural roots,” Luna says. “The altar, or ofrenda, serves as a welcoming space for the spirits of the deceased. It is a bridge between the living and the dead, allowing us to honor their memory and invite their presence back into our lives for this special celebration. It symbolizes love, remembrance, and the cycle of life.”
Last year, my ofrenda specifically honored my grandmother, with whom I had a special relationship. To get more insight on setting up an ofrenda, I spoke to Luna about best practices. Here's her — and my own — advice.
How to Make an Ofrenda
Include photos or other symbols of deceased family and friends to honor their presence. If you don't have pictures, you can write their name on a piece of paper. Having a specific item that shows who you are honoring is important. Beyond pictures, you should include personal belongings or things your loved ones held dear.
Once you have the personal elements of your altar set, there are also traditional items to include. Marigold flowers, known as cempasúchil, attract departed souls to the altar. Copal incense is used to draw in energy, and food and treats your loved one enjoyed will both help nourish them and show them that you remember small details about them. Speaking of nourishing, be sure to offer a glass or pitcher of water — journeying to earth can be thirst-inducing!
Make banners, called papel picado, with perforated paper, depicting both life’s fragility and the wind. White memorial candles, representing the element fire, light a path to this realm. Salt can be placed in containers around the altar or in the shape of a cross on the altar to cleanse the spirits. Pan de Muerto is an offering to the deceased, also representing the circle of life. Calaveras de Azúcar, or sugar skulls, pay tribute to the dead.
A cross can also help the dead find their way back to earth since the four points dictate directions.
These are all, of course, just suggestions. You can include whatever you like in your ofrenda, making it as personal as you please.
How to Assemble Your Ofrenda
Now that you know what you're including, it's time to put your ofrenda together. First, find an elevated, steady surface like a table or desk and start gathering your altar items. Place the items on the surface as you see fit, including photos and personal items first.
Next, start decorating your ofrenda with cempasúchil, papel picado, and other traditional items. Once those are set, add in your food, water, salt, and candles (though be careful with the candle placement — you don't want to start a fire!).
The Day of the Dead is a time to celebrate the life and memory of those you care about. You can visit their graves in the cemetery, have dinner with friends and family, participate in parades, play music, and dance to tunes they like, or share memories with others. Your ancestors hold the key to who you are. Their efforts have made you the person you are today, and now is the time to celebrate that — and maybe even to reconnect.
