This holiday has one important aspect ? family reunion. It?s the time when family visits the graves of their loved ones, to clean them and put lots of decorations, like flowers, candles, some families even make a picnic bringing food with them, usually favorite dishes of the deceased. They sometimes make temporary altars placing personal belongings of the deceased.
The essence of the holiday is returning of the spirits from the afterlife with the purpose of spending time with their families and friends. The living invite the spirits of the family to return home for a few hours of laughter, tears and memories. They are usually attracted by the scent of marigold flower that helps them find the right direction. Some families make paths of the petals that lead out of the cemetery and to the house to guide the spirits. A cross of marigold petals is formed on the floor so that when the spirit approaches the altar, steps first on the cross and expel his guilt.
The main altar is placed in family homes, where one room is especially reserved for that purpose. They can be made in levels. Some are made with two levels, symbolizing heaven and earth, some with three symbolizing heaven, purgatory and earth and there are those with even seven levels, representing steps a soul has to make so it can go to heaven. Once the altar preparations start, a designated area of the home is cleared of its normal furnishings. The arrangement often consists of a table and several overturned wooden crates placed in tiers and covered with clean linens. The offerings are then laid out in an artistic and fairly symmetrical fashion. The smell of burning incense and the light of numerous candles are intended to help the departed find their way.
Symbols and aromas places on the altar represent different things, so symbol of the harvest represent the earth. People fill bowls with corn, fruit or something else that has a certain importance for them and symbolizes the earth.? Candles represent fire, helping the souls to come home safely. The wind is represented with papel picados that wave in the breeze.? Water is prepared for the refreshment of the tired souls. Main directions are marked by four candles, placed on the top level. Most of the altars are filled with the favorite foods, sweets, drinks and harvest fruits of each family spirit, but some things are common for all of them: water to quench the thirst and for purification, salt to season the food and for purification, bread to represent the food needed for survival and a washbasin, soap, towel, mirror and comb are placed nearby so the spirits can clean up when they return.
A candle is lit for each dead family member and one extra so that no one is left out. The candles, which represent hope and faith, burn during the night, so that there is no darkness.
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Source: http://mslrdiadelosmuertos.com/day-of-the-dead-altar/
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