Murillo, Kathy Cano
Dead zone
Issue #29
Create a traditional Día de los Muertos shrine to remember a departed loved one
By Venus Zine Staff
Published: September 1st, 2007 | 12:00am
The 3,000-year-old Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos — or Day of the Dead — is a time to celebrate the cycle of life and death as well as to entertain our dead loved ones who, tradition says, come back for an annual visit. It is Mexican custom to decorate a gravesite or assemble a small colorful ofrenda (shrine) in your home, dedicated to the dearly departed houseguest.
Día de los Muertos is often erroneously associated with Halloween, because it begins at midnight on October 31 and ends at midnight on November 2, but the two celebrations are unrelated. There are no scary skeletons, only happy ones that have come from the afterlife to party and live it up!
Below are all the components of a Día de los Muertos ofrenda, including traditional Mexican touches. There are no steadfast rules when it comes to assembling your shrine — anything goes! Some ofrendas simply include a photo and a candle, while others overtake a whole room. To get you started, we’ve included some guidelines for a happy medium: a tabletop altar. This altar can be constructed on top of a folding table, a dresser, or a coffee table. It also can be placed inside an empty fireplace or on a windowsill.
SUPPLIES
· tablecloth or piece of fabric
· photos or art pieces with images of the honored person
· assorted colorful skeleton items, such as skulls made of sugar
· decorated glass prayer candles (see the sidebar for instructions to make one)
· food and drink
· fresh or paper flowers
· things the person loved while alive (i.e. books, records, and personal objects)
TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COMPONENTS
· mole: Chile dish made with chocolate and dozens of other ingredients
· pan de muerto (bread of the dead): sweet bread baked in the shape of a skeleton and decorated with icing (ask your local bakery if they will make it for the holiday)
· copal incense: special scent believed to help the spirit of honor find its way to the shrine (found in essential-oil shops)
· marigolds: long considered the flowers of the dead in Mexican culture (place an order with your florist to be sure they arrive in time)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Line the area with fabric or freshly cut greenery.
2. Find one of two focal points, such as a large picture of the subject. This can be set in the center or off to one side.
3. Add the candles, flowers, and copal incense.
4. The front of the shrine is where you place the meal. Traditionally, a plate of mole is served; however, you can use whatever favorite food you want. Don't forget to add something to drink, such as a bottle of soda. The spirit will be hungry and thirsty after its long journey from the afterlife! Sweets such as sugar skulls or pan de muerto are traditional Mexican touches.
5. Add objects that they loved, such as books, records, and personal objects.
6. Hang a colorful banner, if desired, or Day of the Dead trinkets.
Kathy Cano Murillo is the founder of CraftyChica.com and author of Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life. To learn more about Día de los Muertos, visit dead.azcentral.com or mexicansugarskull.com.
Mexican Prayer Candle
Add a little sparkle to your ofrenda with this colorful candle
SUPPLIES
· glass prayer candle
· Gallery Glass paint in assorted colors
· Gallery Glass liquid leading
· glitter
· gem
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use window cleaner to wipe away any dust from the candle.
2. Using the liquid leading, draw your design on the candle. You may want to practice the design on paper first or even use a stencil and crayon. Let the liquid leading dry for an hour and then fill in the areas with the glass paint.
3. Add glitter and gems in whatever areas you like while the paint is still wet. Let dry. Alternative: Instead of the glass paint, use craft paint and use a water-based brush on varnish to seal it.
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