The magic of the Mexican Day of the Dead altar

Mexico is a land full of ancestral wisdom, vibrant colors and deep traditions that won me over. For me, in love with its culture, experiencing the Day of the Dead was a unique experience, so intense and special that it still stays with me. It was not a sad day, but a celebration full of life. It opened a window to a deeper connection.

I want to share with you a ritual that my dear friend and guide Rodolfo, a Mexican shaman, taught me to honor those we love and who remain in our hearts. He has transmitted this wisdom to me with the same intention and love that they put into their altar. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is not an absence, but a presence full of life, a reunion. It is the invitation for the souls we love to return, and it allows us to honor their memory with gratitude and joy.

An altar for reunion

Creating an altar for the Day of the Dead is more than a ritual; it is a call to remember from a place of love. It is a sincere expression of our connection with those souls who marked our lives and a recognition that, even if we do not see them, they are still by our side.

Each item we put on the altar has a meaning. The first thing we need are photos or memories of our loved ones, like a small detail that symbolizes their essence. If we don't have photos, we can write their names on a piece of paper. In Mexico, it is believed that by placing their photos or writing their names, the souls feel that they are being invited, that we really want them to come back to share a moment with us.

We will decorate this altar with candles and flowers. Although we don't have cempasúchil in Spain, we can use rose petals, a flower with a high and pure vibration that symbolizes eternal love.

The altar needs a tablecloth of vibrant colors, to attract the spirits with joy and light. We can also add some personal object that we have from them: jewelry, a letter, a book, something that reminds us of their essence.

Prepare the altar

Now comes an act that I consider  Healing: preparing the food that our loved ones liked. It is like remembering them from the warmth of home, with what made them smile. My grandmother loved apple pie and Iberian ham, and I know that placing a little piece of those flavors would make her happy. For my grandfather I put a glass of red wine and bread, because there was no meal without bread and a small glass of red wine. For a friend who loved pizza, I put a piece, without complicating things, but with the hope of knowing that he would like it. Each food is placed on the altar as a small treasure of memories.

As I prepare the altar, I put on the favorite song of one of my friends who is no longer with us. Somehow, I feel that the music calls out to his essence, that he sits next to me to share this moment.

Spread out the tablecloth, place the photos and their objects, those details that speak of them. Place the food and drink, the flowers and rose petals, decorating the floor and the altar, like a path that guides them to us. Rodolfo shared a secret with me: placing clear quartz on the altar amplifies the energy. These quartz cleanse and raise the vibration of the space.

I then write a thank you letter to them, recalling special moments and, if I feel like it, asking a question, as if they are here to answer me. Often, in the days that follow, I have dreams and it is as if their answers come to me in subtle ways.

Once the altar is ready, I smudge it with copal or palo santo to purify the energy. I place a head of garlic in the center, with the intention of protecting this space from any energy that does not come in peace. And when everything is ready, I light the candles and sit in front of it, with a cup of tea, in silence and gratitude.

Honoring the life we ​​lived together

I focus on the beautiful things, on those moments we share. I visualize them, feeling their presence, inviting them to look at their photos, their objects, to enjoy the food. I imagine them smiling, sitting with me, sharing a warm and close moment. I create the altar on the 31st and leave it until the 2nd, in honor of their traditions. In Mexico, the 1st is for the little souls (babies and children) and the 2nd for the adults.

On the 2nd day, I clean up the altar, smoke the space once more, and offer the flowers to the sea, returning to the earth the beauty that they have given me. I bury the garlic in the forest and place a rosemary on top, to purify and release any low energy on the earth, transforming it into calm.

A day to be thankful

Now you know how we make the altar at home, how we invite our loved ones to come back for a moment, out of love and gratitude. It is a beautiful day, sometimes sad, but above all full of gratitude. We remember with tenderness and gratitude, because their teachings and memories filled us with life.

I hope you have a wonderful Day of the Dead, a day of connection, love and reunion with those we love beyond time.