Honoring Loved Ones Through Día de los Muertos
For the second year in a row, I have enjoyed getting my face painted for Día de los Muertos, a beautiful Mexican tradition that honors loved ones who have passed away.
At first, I thought I was simply participating in something meaningful to Gladys. I figured I would put on the face paint, smile for a few photos, and try not to mess anything up.
But then I experienced the whole tradition — the marigolds, the candles, the food, the colors, the photographs, and the stories behind every item on the altar. That is when I realized this was much more than decoration. It was remembrance. It was welcome. It was love, carefully arranged on a table.
I help my wife Gladys set up our ofrenda, welcoming the spirits of our loved ones back for a visit. I say "help" because she's the creative director, cultural expert, floral designer, and quality-control department.
My role is much simpler: moral support, an extra pair of hands, and the occasional husband comment that usually ends with, "Please just hold this." Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
There is something very moving about watching the altar come together piece by piece. The marigolds, the candles, the photographs, the food, the colors, the little details — nothing is random. Every item has meaning. Every flower, candle, photograph, and offering helps say, “You are not forgotten. You are still part of us.”
Día de Muertos Celebration in 2025
What I have learned is that Día de los Muertos is not really about sadness. It is about remembrance. It is about keeping stories alive. It is about honoring those who came before us with color, food, music, laughter, and love. It gives grief a place to sit at the table, but it does not let grief have the final word.
That is one of the things I have come to love most about this tradition. It brings together memories, creativity, family & friends, food, color, and storytelling in a way that feels both joyful and deeply respectful.
Thanks to Gladys, I have not only learned about Día de los Muertos — I have had the privilege of living it, helping with it, wearing it on my face, and discovering the beauty of a culture different from my own. And once I understood its meaning, I began adding my own dear loved ones to the ofrenda as well.
For anyone who wants to better understand the tradition, I strongly recommend watching Pixar’s Coco. It does a wonderful job explaining the meaning of Día de los Muertos in a way that is beautiful, emotional, and easy to understand.
Fair warning: you may need tissues.
Altar de Muertos for November 2025
Altar de Muertos (Ofrenda)
If you'd like to adopt this tradition, as I have, here are some of the key items often found on an ofrenda. I know them well now because I have firsthand altar-building experience under expert supervision. But don't worry about making it "perfect." There really is no right or wrong way to create an altar—the most important part is the love, memories, and meaning behind it.
- Start by finding a good spot in your home and setting up a table with a cloth or colorful papel picado.
- Then add marigolds, known in Spanish as cempasúchil, whose bright color and distinct aroma help guide the spirits home.
- Include photos of your loved ones — and your pets, too, because some of them truly become family.
- Add candles to light the way for your loved ones as they return to visit.
We enjoy real wax candles when we're home, but switch to battery-operated ones when we head out—keeping the tradition alive while keeping the house safe.
- Place a small dish of salt as a symbol of purity and protection, helping guide and comfort your loved ones on their journey.
- Pan de muerto, is a traditional sweet bread (with bone figures on top) is an offering for welcoming loved ones to celebrate the joy of sharing a meal together. It is also a tradition to place some of the foods or drinks they enjoyed in life.
- Don't forget water, as an offering to quench their thirst after their long journey to our ofrenda.
- You can also add calaveras de azúcar, or sugar skulls, as part of the decoration.
Thanks to Gladys, Día de los Muertos has become one more way I have gained a deeper appreciation for a culture different from my own.
It has expanded my view of death and it has reminded me that love does not end when someone leaves this world.
Sometimes, we keep love alive with a photograph, a candle, a favorite meal, a marigold, and a place in our ofrenda.
Original written in December 2024, revised in December 2025, and published on June 18, 2026.