Day of the Dead Altar Art

The Mystic Voodoo

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Day of the Dead altars customarily use papel picado as decoration. Here is a description of papel picado, as well as free papel picado patterns. There is also information about how to make a Day of the Dead altar, and introduces some traditional Day of the Dead Mexican folk art such as images of Diablo from Oaxaca. Artists such as the Castillo family from Puebla, Enrique Badez of San Miguel de Allende, and the archetypal images of Mary Carmen from Mexico City are featured.

About Day of the Dead Altars

Papel Picado

How to Make a Day of the Dead Altar

Mexican Folk Art

About Day of the Dead Altars

The Day of the Dead is a time for the dead to return home and visit loved ones, feast on their favorite foods and listen to their favorite music.

In the homes, family members honor their deceased with ofrendas or offerings which may consist of photographs, bread, other foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic offerings.

Traditional altars consist of an arcos, or arch, covered with marigold flowers. The arch is symbolic of a head board for the bed of those who have died and also of the arching heavens. Most altars also contain images of the Virgin Mary, pictures of the dead, momentos that remind the living of the dead, candles, and food and drink for the returning spirits.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday rooted in the ancient past of Mesoamerica. My ancestors were in awe of the eternal cycle of life and death and believed in the need for sacrifice to assure the continuation of life. The Aztecs of past honored those who have passed on with great feasts, sacrifice, ritual, dance, and sacred art that depicted their beliefs and customs. After the trauma of the Spanish conquest, their beliefs persisted by adapting them to the holidays of the Christian calendar. Although much of the ancient indigenous religions were lost, the core aspect of the days of the dead was kept. This core consists of the altar with offerings to the dead.

Papel Picado: The Art of Mexican Cut Paper

Download a FREE Papel Picado Pattern (with instructions) (pdf 132KB)

Papel picado ("perforated paper") is the Mexican art of papercutting into elaborate designs. The use of paper as an decoration in religious activities can be traced back to pre-Hispanic Mexico. Using bark from the mulberry and wild fig trees, the Aztecs made paper called amatl. This paper was cut into intricate designs and used as banners and flags as decoration for temples, streets, homes, and fields during religious festivities. For example, rubber-splashed paper banners were commonly utilized in association with the rain gods (Palfrey, 1999).

The designs are commonly cut from tissue paper using a guide and small chisels, creating as many as forty banners at a time or by by folding the tissue paper and using small, sharp scissors. Common themes includes birds, floral designs, and skeletons. In addition to being used for Day of the Dead celebrations, they are displayed for Easter, Christmas, weddings, quinceañeras, and christenings.

Colors schemes selected for papel picado are frequently linked with specific festivities. Sky blue or pink and white are commonly chosen for celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary, yellow and white for patron saints. Vibrant pink, orange and purple are the key tones employed for ofrendas (offerings) associated with the Day of the Dead. Shades of purple are also widely used at Easter. The colors of the Mexican flag--red, white and green--are set aside for venerating the nation's patroness, La Virgen de Guadalupe, as well as for commemorating Independence Day, September 16. Rainbow hues are appropriate for Christmas and non-religious festivities. Here is an image of how papel picado is used on a Day of the Dead altar (Palfrey, 1999).

Photo: http://www.storyboardtoys.com/gallery/La-Ofrenda.htm

References

Palfrey, D. H. (1999). Papel picado: A classic art for a Mexican fiesta. Retrieved from http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/dpalfrey/dppapelpicado.html

Day of the Dead News

Patzcuaro, MEXICO - An old Mexican pilgrim stayed all night long next to the tomb of her relatives in a Mexican cemetery during the Day of the Dead in Pastcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico.

How to Make a Day of the Dead Altar

The altar includes four main elements of nature - earth, wind, water, and fire.

Earth is represented by crop: The Mexicans believe the souls are fed by the aroma of food.

Wind is represented by a moving object: Tissue paper is commonly used to represent wind.

Water is placed in a container for the soul to quench its thirst after the long journey to the altar.

Fire is represented by a wax candle: Each lit candle represents a soul, and an extra one is placed for the forgotten soul.

To make a Day of the Dead altar, you will need the following items:

1. Photo of our Loved One. At the center of the altar is a photograph of the loved one to whom the altar is dedicated. It is decorated with momentos that reflect the individual.

2. It is customary to prepare a feast of foods that the spirits will enjoy. Tamales, mole, pan de muerto, and seasonal fruits are traditionally used, as well as foods that were favorites of the deceased.

3. Marigold Flowers (Cempasúchitl). In addition, yellow and orange marigolds are lavished upon the altar. Marigolds are used because of their abundance and their robust aroma.

4. Sugar skulls and calacas (skeletons). The presence of whimsical calacas offer those in the physical world something tangible that captures the spirit of the loved one.

5. Votive Candles. Purple represents pain, pink celebration, and white hope. Use whatever colors feel right as there is much room for personalization.

6. Grooming items. A bar of soap, a towel, perfume, and the like are placed on the altar in the belief that the dead ones have been on a long journey and would like to refresh themselves for the celebration.

Other items such as paper cut outs, images of saints, personal effects of the honoree are placed at the altar.

Salt is considered the spice of life and is one the staples that should be left at the altar.

It is believed that the dead consider it disrepectful to be greeted by grieving at the altar.

Mexican Folk Art

Images of Diablo from Oaxaca.

Catrina Llorona

La Llorona is a popular Hispanic icon. According to the folk tale she murdered her two children to avenge her husband and is destined to roam the earth searching for her children.