How is an altar of the day of the dead made?

This is one of the main characteristics of the Mexican holiday. Do you want to know how to make an altar for the Day of the Dead?

November 2nd is the exact day of this ancestral celebration: The celebration of the dead. Thinking about these characteristic days inevitably brings us images of offerings and altars.  

That is why, below, we want to give you a step by step guide to make your own altar for the Day of the Dead.

When is the Day of the Dead altar “assembled”?

The souls of the children arrive on November 1, which is why on October 31 the altars begin to be set up to receive them. 

The altars begin to be removed on November 3, when the souls of the adults have already departed.

Did you know that the altar of the dead has 7 levels?

There is no single way to build an altar for the celebration of the Day of the Dead. However, these altars have become popular for being represented with 7 levels: What do these levels mean?

The story goes that the seven levels of the altar are the seven different states through which our souls must pass before finding paradise.

Guide for a real Day of the Dead altar

During these days, it is a unique and wonderful moment where people who have left the earthly world are celebrated. That is why this celebration has such a nostalgic and hopeful halo. Below, we will make a tour for you to have a real Day of the Dead altar:

• Photographs of our loved ones: This festivity is to venerate the memory of people who are no longer in the earthly world. For this reason, their photographs cannot be missing from the altar.

• Favorite foods: Why are food offerings made? It is so that the souls of our loved ones return home and can feel entertained with those typical dishes they enjoyed so much in life. 

• Water: After a long walk, the souls arrive home thirsty, that is why it is “necessary” that they are received with love and water.

• Candles: They are really very important in our altar since they are the light that can guide the souls of our loved ones so they can come back to visit us once again.

• A marigold flower: During the weeks of celebration, the marigold flower takes a leading role. The flower of strong colors and intense aroma, when the petals are removed, is left forming a cross that acts as a guide to invite the souls to follow their path.   

• Confetti: Its purpose is to decorate our altar with figures of skulls and skeletons. It is not necessary to buy these decorations since you can do it yourself with love and dedication.

• White tablecloth: The tablecloth where all the offerings for the souls of our loved ones should be placed must be white. The color of the tablecloth keeps its reference in the color of the clouds. In addition, you can finish the decoration of the tablecloth with confetti.

In the conception of the Day of the Dead, we celebrate the new state of the soul of our loved ones: They come, smell, observe, taste, listen and revive. The life of the soul that will visit us is there, in the altar, where year after year, we will continue celebrating its constant rebirth, in this celebration as magical and wonderful as the Day of the Dead. 

Luckily, México Underground has a Day of the Dead tour, where we explore the 24 hours flowers market of Jamaica, that during the Day Of The Dead season in Mexico City is the most important place.