Altar Building

Preparing Your Altar
The altar is prepared in a place of honor, using empty boxes or crates placed on a table or floor to form a pyramid of three or more levels, then a tablecloth covers it all.

There are no absolute rules for creating your altar, however, tradition calls for these items listed here, and even the most humble altar includes these 3 basics items:

• Water to quench the thirst and for purification
• Salt to season the food and for purification
• Bread to represent the food needed for survival

Meaning of Colors

• Purple - Signifies pain, suffering, grief, and mourning
• Pink - Celebration
• White - Purity and hope
• Orange - Sun
• Red - The blood of life
• Yellow - Cempazuchitl are marigolds that symbolize death. Petals are used to make a trail so that the spirits can see the path to their altars.

Photos

• Photos of the deceased
• Photos of saints of particular importance to the family

Personal items

• A child's toys
• Tools of a persons trade
• Items used each day
• Guitars or other musical instruments

Candles are always present on altars

• Use caution when lighting your candles
• Never allow a lit candle to be unattended
• Candles can be different shapes, sizes, and designs

Incense are always present on altars

• Copal is the resinous sap of the protuim copal tree, which is native to Central America and Southern Mexico.
• On the Day of the Dead altar, the scent attracts spirits, drawing them home.
• It is also used to cleanse the area, and to ward off evil.

Food

• The honored person's favorite food and drink
• Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead) represents the souls of the dead. Most of the bread loaves are shaped as ovals (said to be the shape of one's soul), though each loaf may vary with different ingredients and decorations. In some parts of Mexico, the bread may be shaped as humans or animals.
• Mole and tamales are especially associated with Day of the Dead
• Sweets, especially for children or if the deceased has an especially sweet tooth.

Flowers

• Yellow and orange marigolds, known as "the flower of the dead or Flor del Muerto
• Other fragrant flowers are used to communicate to the spirits the richness of the offering. A loved one's favorite flowers could be used along with the marigold.
• Sometimes, paths of marigold petals are created to aid the souls in finding their way home.

Calaveras/Skeleton motifs
Calaveras are funny and friendly rather than frightening or spooky. They represent the deceased, their occupations and hobbies. The whimsical and colorful skeleton figures bring back memories and cause the loved one's family and friends to smile.

• Skull heads made of sugar, plaster of Paris, wood or paper mache and decorated festively.
• Dolls and toys, like little coffins with moveable parts are made for living children. Thus, the child's acquaintance with death is a cheerful one.

Papel Picado

• Colorful tissue paper is cut, papel picado, into intricate designs and strung to flutter over and around the altar.

Altar Building Video

• How to Make a Day of the Dead Altar