The Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration honouring the dead that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. The tradition that embodies the Mexican belief in celebrating the Day of the Dead is the ofrenda.
The ofrenda is made up of fruits such as tejocote, mandarin, orange and sugar cane for the nourishment of the deceased, representing the earth. Copal and incense are a fundamental part of the offering, as the smoke they generate is believed to mark the path.
A little water in a container for the souls to quench their thirst after a long journey to their altar. Petals of the zempoalxóchitl flower are scattered at the door of the house and around the ofrenda to guide the soul of the deceased. A typical dish of the region or the favourite of the deceased, such as mole, beans, tortillas, pozole and some typical sweets.
The photo, as well as personal and favourite things of the deceased. A must in every ofrenda is the delicious pan de muerto (bread of the dead), which comes in different styles, shapes and flavours.
In some cases where the tradition is deeply rooted, the ofrenda is placed from the 28th of October to be ready on the 2nd of November. There are offerings separated into levels that can have from one to seven levels, which represent the levels that the soul must pass through in order to reach its resting place. The most common is the two-level offering, which represents the division between heaven and earth.