THE TRADITIONS LIBRARY
Día de Muertos Ofrendas
A photograph is placed with care. A favourite dish is prepared. Someone recalls a familiar saying, a much-loved song, or the person who always made everyone laugh.
During Día de Muertos, many Mexican families and communities create ofrendas to honour loved ones who have died. The word ofrenda means “offering.” Arranged at home, at a gravesite, or in a community space, it brings together objects and offerings connected with those being remembered.
Practices vary, but the ofrenda creates a place where memory, affection, and cultural tradition can be shared across generations.
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The Traditions Library
0061
CATEGORY
Cultural Traditions
FREQUENCY
Annually
AGES
All Ages
COST
Flexible
The Story Behind It
Día de Muertos is a living Mexican tradition shaped by Indigenous practices of honouring the dead and Catholic observances introduced during Spanish colonization. Its forms differ among regions, communities, and families.
Observances take place around late October and early November, with November 1 and 2 especially significant in many communities. Within the tradition, departed loved ones are welcomed back for a temporary reunion with the living.
Families prepare offerings that may include favourite foods, water, flowers, candles, photographs, and personal objects. These are chosen and arranged with meaning, offering hospitality to those who are remembered.
The ofrenda continues to evolve in Mexico and among Mexican communities elsewhere. It can be intimate or elaborate, but its significance comes from the relationships, beliefs, and memories it holds.
What You'll Need
Depending on the customs being followed, an ofrenda may include:
• Photographs of loved ones who have died.
• Their favourite foods, drinks, or meaningful belongings.
• Water, flowers, and candles or battery-operated lights.
• Pan de muerto, papel picado, or other traditional elements.
The selection is guided by family and community practices rather than a universal shopping list.
Make It Your Own
For families who observe Día de Muertos, the personal details can reflect the people being welcomed: a favourite recipe, a familiar hat, a treasured photograph, or an object that brings a story to mind.
Invite different generations to contribute memories. Someone might prepare a dish, write down a saying, or explain why a particular object belongs on the ofrenda.
If you are learning about the tradition, begin with Mexican voices, cultural institutions, or a community-led event that welcomes visitors. Learn what the offerings mean and follow the guidance of the hosts.
A personal remembrance table can also be meaningful within your own family’s customs. If it is inspired by an ofrenda, acknowledge that inspiration while recognizing the distinct cultural and spiritual meaning of Día de Muertos.
How It’s Done
Families prepare an ofrenda according to their own customs. A table, shelf, or larger arrangement becomes a place for offerings and remembrance.
Photographs identify loved ones being honoured. Favourite foods and drinks offer a personal welcome. Water, candles, cempasúchil flowers -marigolds- and other elements carry meanings within the tradition. Some families include pan de muerto, cut-paper decorations called papel picado, religious images, or objects connected with the person’s life.
Preparing the ofrenda can become a time to tell stories, cook together, and introduce younger generations to relatives they may never have met. Some families also visit and care for gravesites.
There is no single arrangement that represents every family or community.