An ofrenda is a welcome. Once a year, the tradition says, the people we've lost come home to visit, and the family gets ready for them the way you'd get ready for any guest you love: their photo where they can see it, their favorite food on the table, a light in the window.
Every object on an ofrenda has a job. Here's what they are.
What goes on an ofrenda#
| Element | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Photos | Who is being remembered. The heart of the altar. |
| Cempasúchil (marigolds) | Their color and scent guide the dead home. Petals are often laid in a path to the altar. |
| Candles | Light the way. Some families place one for each person remembered. |
| Copal or incense | Cleanses the space and carries prayers. |
| Water | For the thirst of a long journey. |
| Salt | Purifies, and in many families, keeps the body from decay on the way. |
| Pan de muerto | The sweet bread of the season, with "bones" crossed on top. |
| Sugar skulls (calaveritas) | Often with a name written on the forehead. |
| Papel picado | Cut-paper banners. They move when the dead arrive, some say. |
| Favorite food and drink | Mole, tamales, fruit, a beer, a tequila, a cigarette — whatever they loved. |
| Personal things | Their glasses, a hat, a toy for a child. |
You'll also see, depending on the region: an arch of flowers or sugarcane over the altar, a cross of ash or flowers, images of saints, and sometimes a figure of a xoloitzcuintle, the hairless dog said to guide souls.
The levels#
Many ofrendas are built in steps, and you'll hear different explanations:
- Two levels: heaven and earth.
- Three levels: heaven, earth and the underworld.
- Seven levels: the steps a soul climbs to reach rest.
There is no single correct version. Most families build what their space, their budget and their grandmother's tradition allow.
When to set it up#
Families usually have the ofrenda ready by October 31. November 1 is for children who have died, and their altars often have toys, sweets and white flowers. November 2 is for adults. After the 2nd the altar comes down, and the food — which the dead are said to have enjoyed in spirit — is shared by the family.
In some regions, October 28 is set aside for those who died suddenly or violently. Customs vary a lot by state and by town.
How to make your own#
- Choose who you're remembering, and find their photos.
- Pick a table or shelf. Boxes under a cloth make simple levels.
- Add the basics: marigolds, candles, water, salt.
- Add what they loved: a dish, a drink, music, a book.
- Light it on the 31st or the 1st, and take a moment with it each day.
Keep it about the person. That's the whole point.
Where to see the most beautiful ones#
In Mexico, altars fill homes, restaurants, markets and public squares. Oaxaca's are famous, along with the sand tapestries drawn on the ground: Day of the Dead in Oaxaca 2026. Mexico City builds huge public ofrendas. Dates and places across the country: Day of the Dead in Mexico 2026.
The most moving ofrenda is a family's own. If you're in Mexico for the season, a local can explain what you're looking at — and sometimes invite you to see theirs. Meet Local Friends in Mexico City and message them directly on Roavi.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do you put on a Day of the Dead altar?
Photos of the people being remembered, marigolds (cempasúchil), candles, copal or incense, a glass of water, salt, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, papel picado, and the favorite food, drink and belongings of each person.What do the levels of an ofrenda mean?
There is no single rule. A two-level altar is often read as heaven and earth; three levels as heaven, earth and the underworld; seven levels as the steps a soul climbs to rest. Many families simply build as many levels as their space and tradition allow.When do you set up and take down a Day of the Dead altar?
Many families have it ready by October 31, before the children are remembered on November 1 and the adults on November 2. It usually comes down after November 2, and the food is shared among the family.Can I make an ofrenda if I'm not Mexican?
Many people outside Mexico make one to remember someone they love. Do it with care: learn what the elements mean, make it about real people, and don't treat it as Halloween decoration.