Day of the Dead: The Importance of the Altars

After the cheerful communal festivities done in the cemetery, the family returns home to conduct another set of festivals and rituals. The Altar, which is the most important leading tradition of Dia de los Muertos is the assembled. In Oaxaca the families are quite careful to distinguish between the altar and the ofrenda which to them are two very distinct things. The altar is the structure that holds the offrends. But almost like a monument, the whole altar becomes the center table in which family member coming from all over the world will once again reunite at and commemorate those who passed away. The ofrenda is built with compassion and detail in anticipation of the expected returning souls. Today the assemblies of these significant altars have turned into an enormous and outstanding project, which will be seen and remembered by all for years to come.

“The world “altar” is derived from the Latin word “alter”. It is a combination of two roots, Altos meaning “high” and ara means “altar”, referring to “a raised structure that goes upward toward the sky or heaven”(Murillo) The altars for Dia de los Muertos show how the souls, for who they built, were held in the utmost respect and honor. Altars are usually set up for one specific soul but could also be made for several departed family members. The pictures of the departed are placed on the altar which are decorated using sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, saintly images, and their favorite foods and beverages as well as with gifts. It is extremely common for families to spend large amounts of money on the altar, in which all the items are new, because they want only the best for their dearly departed.

In some places like Oaxaca, family and friends are invited to visit and add th...

... middle of paper ...

...calabaza, fruit pastes, turkey or chicken in mole, tamales, enchiladas, chalupas, water, coffee, hot chocolate, atole, alcohol, beer, tequla, and mescal.

On this day the “table” is set on an altar. The souls are not seen but their presence is felt. These souls do not actually eat the food, they can’t, but they do they do absorb there flavor, and smell. After the souls have finished “eating” there delicious food it becomes time for the living to eat. After the celebration the food and drinks that were placed on the offrenda are distributed amid the family and friends. It is said that the food becomes tasteless and no longer has nutritional value because the spirits already absorbed all of it. But just because today isn’t necessarily Day of the Dead doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of these foods. Let now take a look at the recipes for some of these delicious foods.