What makes an ofrenda?
What makes an ofrenda?
After a long, hot summer in San Antonio, fall is finally here. And while we may not have hit sweater weather yet, you can see the season start with the city preparing for some of the most anticipated holidays of the year including Día de los Muertos.
Also known as All Souls Day or Day of the Dead, the traditional Mexican holiday takes place November 1-2. It’s believed that the gates from the land of the dead open on the night of October 31, and souls are allowed to cross over to visit their living families, November 1 for children and November 2 for adults.
This year, SAMA will celebrate with Ofrenda: Juan O’Gorman and a Legacy of Muralism, a special collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México San Antonio (UNAM San Antonio). If you visit SAMA anytime from October 26 through November 30, you’ll experience the ofrenda as you enter the Great Hall.
This ofrenda pays homage to Juan O’Gorman, a renowned Mexican artist and architect who created the iconic mosaic mural Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas for Hemisfair '68.
But what makes an ofrenda fit for honoring the love ones we’ve lost? The key is personalization. Using a mix of traditional items and old favorites of the departed make an ofrenda unique and welcoming for the spirits visiting over the holiday.
If you want to make your own ofrenda this year, here are a few items your altar could use.
1. Marigolds:
The flower’s scent and bright color is said to help souls find their way as they cross over to visit. You may also see ofrendas with cockscomb flowers, chrysanthemums, or gladiolas.
2. Photos:
Photos of friends, family, and important people in our lives who are no longer with us are an essential to an ofrenda. Their pictures on the altar let their spirits know we’d love for them to join in on the earthly celebration.
3. Candles:
Candles illuminate the path to the altar, also guiding spirits on their journey. Fire also represents one of the four elements that are traditionally displayed in ofrendas.
4. Foods:
Placing the favorite foods of the departed, or classics like pan de muerto, on an ofrenda help encourage their souls to visit over the two-day holiday as well. The same way the scent of your own favorite meal can bring you to the kitchen to see what’s going on.
5. Decorations:
Sugar skulls, papel picado, salt, and water. While some people make sure to include decorations that represent the elements or purity, things like toys, figurines, or instruments are just as significant to an ofrenda (Think of Disney’s Coco and the power one guitar had!)
Lindsy Rymers
Marketing Assistant
