Making Mama Coco’s Ofrenda

How to bring Mexico’s Día de Muertos tribute into your own home

If you were one of millions who watched the Pixar movie Coco (the highest grossing animated movie of all time in Mexico), chances are you’ve become familiar with the mystical ofrenda.

And if you haven’t, you’re about to become “educarte.”

What is an “ofrenda?”

Also regarded as “altares” or alters, these displays are not designed for religious worship, but serve instead as the ofrenda’s literal translation: an offering. Created during Día de Muertos — the days of the dead — tables and shelves are gathered to help form a base upon which many thoughtful and specific offerings are placed. During this three-day celebration, souls of deceased loved ones are believed to make an annual pilgrimage to the land of the living, and these ofrendas serve as stopping points for the spirits on their trip. Photos, favorite foods and drinks, and meaningful objects are only a few examples of the items brought to the table.

Ofrenda DIY: Making Your Own

1. Clean. Limpia, wash, tidy– and then clean some more. After all, you’re preparing for some very special house guests, mija! If you thought your mother in-law was critical about your home before, just wait until she haunts you with dirty-dish guilt beyond the grave.

PHOTO CREDIT: TIMLEWISNM VIA FLICKR

2. Cover. Dress your chosen ofrenda table with a white linen cloth before placing decorative pieces of papel picado (pictured above) gently over top.

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PHOTO CREDIT: IRINA ANASTASIU AND FOTOGRAFIERENDE VIA PEXELS

3. Light the way. It is customary to light candles for the deceased souls you wish to guide back, so bring your longest-lasting torches and make sure the location of the ofrenda is a safe distance from fabric, paper, or otherwise flammable materials. It should also go without saying, but don’t leave a lit ofrenda unattended– there’s no need to join the relatives you wish to guide in the afterlife.

PHOTO CREDIT: RAINY CITY VIA FLICKR

4. Start stacking. Customary items include water (to quench the thirst of the souls from their long trip), incense, favorite foods, drinks, and small toys for the souls of the children who have passed. A photograph of each family member you wish to guide back should likewise be placed on the ofrenda, so that they can easily find their home and offerings.

There you have it amigos! As demonstrated by this beautiful Mexican tradition, not every aspect of death has to serve as a solemn or depressing ceremony. Let us take inspiration from the way the lives of the dead are celebrated during Día de Muertos, and maybe this year, you too can enjoy the company of your loved ones at the ofrenda.

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF DAVID MENDEZ VIA FLICKR