Between October 28 and November 3, Mexicans and other people with Hispanic heritage celebrate the Day of the Dead. It is believed that those who have departed can return during this period, visiting from the underworld, Mictlán in Aztec mythology.

Traditionally, families provide some support for the reunion with altars that contain symbolic items to make the spirits comfortable and show them that they are remembered. These gateways between two worlds are called ofrendas.

Some are small to fit into one’s house, others are large community affairs, combining individual remembrance with establishing communal bonds by upholding the tradition. I’ve come across several of them during my L.A. explorations.

I was told that they traditionally make reference to earth, water, wind (papel picado) and fire (candles) as elements that have meaning for the visit, representing the terrestrial plane that the loved ones are about to reenter.

There are items that symbolize purification and protection for the visitors, like the burning of copal or incense.

There are photos of the visitors themselves, an important part of remembrance, and usually chosen to display them while doing something they loved.

Other items focus on decoration to show that we celebrate their return, in particular Papel Picado, intricate paper cut-outs that also symbolize wind.

Marigolds are a big part of the celebration, seen everywhere with the flower vendors and on the ofrendas. Cempasúchil, a flower of Nahuatl origin and called flower of twenty flowers” is believed to represent the sun and the light emitted to illuminated the travelers’ path.

Then there is bread, that points to the cycle of life and death. It is specially made for this annual occasion, with orange, anise and topped with sugar. The shape varies apparently from region to region, symbolizing parts of the physical body with an elevated center that refers to the head or the heart.

And there are the calaveras/calaveritas, sugar skulls that also refer to the sweetness of life and death as belonging to each other. Sometimes they are made from more durable materials, paper maché, clay or wood so that they can be reused every year.

Often, alcoholic drinks and even cigarettes are included to invite the traveler to enjoy themselves once again and think back to the good times in life, as are fruits that represent sweetness.

The ofrada strikes me as a wonderful way to keep memory going, introducing younger generations to both their forbears as well as the traditions of one’s culture. The focus on comfort, sweetness, nourishment and protection are a counterbalance to the pain that loss and grieving instills. The brightness of the colors, the marigolds that illuminate every corner is so incredibly life-affirming.

Some versions are more modern, but expressing the same sentiments:

A book of memories and tokens for the loved ones.

Yellow and orange can, of course, be found all around during halloween times. Here is an abundance of pumpkins that were displayed at Descanso garden right next to a communal ofrada.

Now, if you tasked me with decorating, you’d probably get this….

Sunday afternoon, I happened to be at Sycamore Grove Park, a little neighborhood park, and an Aztec dance group, Xipe Totec, performed for Dia de Muertos. I’m just floating on the sounds and sights…

Here is a traditional folk song for the occasion La Llorona

Classical Music by Gabriela Ortiz is titled ofrenda..