What makes an ofrenda?

Ofrendas may differ slightly from region to region, but you can bet they will include a variation of the same classic elements. For example, most ofrendas include items that represent the four major elements: earth, fire, water, and air.

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Earth is represented through food, which will be placed on the ofrenda. Often loved ones will include some of the deceased person/person’s favorite dishes for the occasion. A common food offering during the holiday is pan de Muerto, or “dead bread”, a popular baked good made not only to place on the altars but for the festivities in general.

A glass of water is often left on the ofrenda to symbolize the element of water. Legend says the journey to the land of the living is a long one, and spirits will want to quench their thirst. Sometimes other beverages are left out as well, depending on what the deceased person liked best. It's not uncommon to see a shot of nice tequila left out for a particular ancestor!

To symbolize fire, candles are set up all over the ofrenda creating an inviting glow intended to light the spirit path home. Candles are an important part of the holiday as a whole; aside from the ofrenda, family members can be seen carrying candles through the streets and into graveyards where they may leave a glowing light next to a gravestone of a loved one. Some people will stay late into the night, spending time with the spirits who are believed to be visiting once more.

Air is represented more abstractly through the decoration of “papel picado”, a colorful string of paper cutouts hung decoratively around the ofrenda that float through the breeze. Each paper has a design cut into it, and the holes in the paper are thought to help spirits travel through. Some common designs in the paper reflect the theme of the holiday and often have skulls, skeletons, and Mexican folk art. 

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In addition to the four elements, a proper ofrenda must have photos of the deceased person or people one is wishing to lure back home. The photos are generally ones that showcase the ancestor in the prime of their life, and is displayed so that the spirit can locate the right ofrenda. Incense and marigolds are used and set up with the hope that their scent will further attract spirits to the altar. Marigolds are also used outside of ofrendas all over some towns and are considered the official flower of the holiday.