The Meaning of Dia De Muertos and Ways To Honor The Dead

By Amber C. Snider

Dia de Muertos is a time to remember, honor, and celebrate the dead. Here are some sacred lessons we can learn from the Latin American holiday,  including why we shouldn't be afraid of death and ways to keep the memories of our loved ones alive. 

Photo by Eduardo Dorantes on Unsplash

In Mexico and throughout Latin America, Dia de Muertos (or Dia de Los Muertos) is typically celebrated over two days beginning on November 1 where altars, known as ofrendas, are set out to honor the ancestors, including setting out favorite foods, photographs, sugar skulls, flowers, and sacred or beloved objects.

It originally began as an Aztec tradition, dedicated to the Lady of the Dead or Mictēcacihuātl, who ruled over the afterlife and underworld, but was later syncretized by Spanish colonizers to become All Saints Day and All Souls Day in the Catholic tradition, which honors saints and martyrs. We see this also in the holiday of Samhain, an ancient Celtic holiday dedicated to honoring the dead, which later became known as Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve. Today, La Catrina, the colorful, elegant skeleton woman known as La Catrina, is a modern interpretation of the Lady of the Dead. Originally created by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada in the early 20th century, La Catrina's image was later popularized by other Mexican artists, including Diego Rivera, and her face is now ubiquitous throughout the country. 

It’s believed that at this time of year, it’s easier for the spirit world to come visit us and travel between realms. During Dia de los Muertos, sugar skulls are also set out on ofrendas, or altars, to honor the dead: These colorfully painted and decorated skeletons remind us not to be afraid of death, but to celebrate the beauty and wonders of life itself. 

Traditions and rituals of remembrance can be found throughout the world, and it’s important to take the time to honor our loved ones and family who've passed over, especially at this time of year. Here are tips for reflecting on the lessons of the season, including building an altar to loved ones who are no longer with us, and celebrating the souls of the dead.

Build an altar or sacred space in your home
Clear out and clean a small section of your home, whether that’s a small table or a shelf, for your altar. Light some incense (or burn sacred wood like palo santo) to clear out the space and welcome in good spirits. Find a clean table cloth or textile that’s special to your family and place it on the table. Next, gather up the objects you’d like to place on your altar, selecting at least one object for each family member who has passed on. It could be an heirloom (like a locket), anything that reminds you of them, or one of their personal objects. You can also set out dishes of their favorite foods and drinks. Remember to keep the area clean while the altar is up. 

Set out photographs of loved ones who've passed on
Gather any old photographs of your deceased loved ones and place them around the altar. There’s no one way to set up a personal altar, it’s all about your individual practice, but I recommend placing the objects in front of or near the corresponding photographs. 

Gather flowers and sacred plants
Marigold flowers, or cempasúchil, are sacred for Dia de Los Muertos and are typically placed on ofrendas. Their bright, orange color attracts the spirits, but you can gather any flower that you’d like for your personal altar. For instance, if you had a grandmother who loved white roses, set that out in a vase, jar, or sprinkle the petals are your altar. Be sure to tend to the flowers while the altar is up. You can also get a Rose of Jericho: an incredibly strange, wonderful plant that resembles (at first) a dried up ball of twigs, but when placed in a bowl of water, opens up and blossoms, becoming "alive" once again.  

Light candles
White candles can be used for so many things, but especially in honoring the spirits. Light small tea lights, 120 candles, or 7-10 day pullout candles and set them up around your altar. You can also hand-carve a special candle for your altar, and add sacred oils and herbs to the markings. The light of the flame draws in the spirits and if you incorporate candle magic, you can focus on the flame as representative of your good will and respect towards your ancestors. 

Image by Jose Sanchez Hernandez from Pixabay

Write letters to your loved ones
When your altar is complete, take time to write messages and letters to your loved ones who’ve passed on. I find this to be incredibly cathartic, meditative, and magical, and typically write a message for several family members (and family pets) at this time of year. This could include memories, favorite qualities about them, things you wished you could’ve said when they were alive, and/or spirit petitions. 

Visit their grave sites
If you can, right now is a good time to go visit your family's graves and pay respects in-person. Bring along fresh flowers, letters, or any sacred object you wish to show your deceased loved ones. But don't bring gloomy sadness with you –– remember this time of year is to pay homage to the life they led and the joy they brought you. 

Share stories with family
One way of honoring the dead is by remembering them and stories help us do that. Stories are how we keep the memories of each other alive: by sharing memories with loved ones, we’re “bringing them back.” It's believed that by including a loved one on your ofrenda, or altar, you're giving them space in your home and making sure they have a place in the after life, but stories also do the same thing –– by putting words to memories, we're keeping their memory alive and with us.