Dia De Los Muertos - My first ofrenda

I'd like to say I've been making ofrendas with my family all my life but it's just not something my family did. We are Catholic, we're Mexican, we're very into our culture, but for whatever reason it wasn't a family tradition. This year my mom and I created our first ofrenda. An ofrenda is an altar you create to pay homage to your loved ones who have died. The altar has their favorite food, candles, and various meaningful objects to welcome them back on the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos (aka The Day of the Dead). If you've never created one, below are step-by-step directions on how to do so...but first lets dispel some common misconceptions about this holiday.

First, Dia De Los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween. It is a separate cultural and religious holiday celebrated on November 2nd.

Second, it originated in Mexico and northern Central America where indigeneous groups such as the Aztec, Mayan and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their deceased loved ones (Credit: Smithsonian)

Third, it's not a funeral. It's a celebration. Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration of your loved ones lives, what they meant to you and the memories you shared.

How to create an ofrenda:

Step 1: Get pictures of your deceased loved ones

Step 2: Pick an area in your home to feature them on (perhaps a buffet table in your dining room or console in your family room)

Step 3: Gather all necessary items from the four elements: Water, Wind, Earth & Fire

• Water: Place a jug or glass of water to quench the dead's thirst from their journey back to you on the Day of the Dead

• Wind: Hang Papel Picado (traditional Mexican paper banners)

• Earth: Place bread and other favorite food items of the deceased

• Fire: Place candles throughout the altar to help the spirits find their way

Step 4: Add symbolic items. Examples include:

• Cempasuchil - These orange marigold flowers, native to Mexico, can be seen in the thousands during this time. They grow in fields and their bright petals are spread all over altars to help lead the spirits from their cemetery to their families homes.

• Monarch butterflies - Monach Butterflies arrive in mexico for the winter of each fall and are believed to hold the spirits of the dead.

• Calaveritas de azucar (also known as Sugar skulls) - Some people use sugar skulls simply to decorate the altar and other use sugar skulls to represent the loss of a child. The sugar skulls are decorated in whimsical bright colors to emphasize the celebration of life.

• Tequila - This is meant to represent joy, laughter and good times.

Step 5: Scatter some personal objects that hold meaning to the deceased to welcome them home.

Step 5: Arrange all photos and items over the ofrenda as you see fit, light the candles and get ready to celebrate!

Having now completed my first ofrenda I will say that, just as it is intended, the act of gathering these items brought me joy, not sorrow. It was nice to see pictures of my grandparents and pay homage to them. Putting their favorite food on the altar reminded me of all the meals we shared over holidays, birthdays and normal everyday gatherings. Growing up my grandmother always made tacos on Halloween and, funny enough, it was my favorite part of that holiday, rather than the candy or costumes. Putting high heels on the ofrenda to remember my great aunt who loved shoes made me think about how strong the women in my life were and how it was such a privilege to learn from them and have them help shape my childhood, character and heart. I have every intention of continuing this tradition with my children and hope it revitalizes my family's interest in our Mexican culture because while the spirits may only come back once a year, they live within us every day.