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Experts explain what ofrendas are, which is a big part of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). ... Ofrenda means “offering” in English and it’s an altar that families create in their homes ...
An ofrenda (Spanish: "offering") is the offering placed in a home altar during the annual and traditionally Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration. An ofrenda , which may be quite large and elaborate, is usually created by the family members of a person who has died and is intended to welcome the deceased to the altar setting.
The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. [23] [25] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrendas ' food, so though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can ...
Usually, altars—or ofrendas—are made with boxes or tables to create three tiers. A picture of the deceased is placed in one tier, and food and decorations are placed in the other levels.
In Michoacán, breads include pan de ofrenda (offering bread), the shiny pan de hule (rubber bread), and corn-based corundas, made with tomato sauce and chile de árbol. [35] In Puebla, and in diaspora communities, the bread often is coated with bright pink sugar. [7]
In addition to favourite dishes and memorabilia, ofrendas are also decorated with calaveras - known as sugar skulls in English - as well as paper mache banners, orange marigolds, and candles.
The sugar skulls were originally created as gifts, to be eaten by children. They are sometimes now used as offerings to be placed on altars known as ofrendas ("offerings") for Día de Muertos. It has been argued that the tradition has roots in indigenous celebrations, by groups including the Aztec, Mayan, and Toltec commemorations. [4]
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