The day of the dead is undoubtedly one of the most important traditions of our country, the first two days of November takes place the celebration of the union of the world of the dead with that of the living. The first day corresponds to the souls of the children and the second corresponds to the souls of the adults. To honor the visit of the souls of the deceased, an offering is prepared, to which different elements are put, but have you asked yourself what does each of these mean? In this article we tell you the meaning of those elements that can not be missing in your offering.
- Water: It is offered to souls to quench their thirst after their long journey and to strengthen their return.
- Salt: It serves so that the body does not get corrupted, on its round trip for the following year.
- Veladoras: The flame they produce means “light”, faith, hope. It is a guide, with its flickering flame so that the souls can reach their old places and light the return to their abode. Each candle represents a deceased, that is, the number of candles that the altar will have will depend on the souls that the family wants to receive.
- Copal: It is the element that sublimates the prayer or praise, is used to clean the place of evil spirits and so the soul can enter your home without any danger.
- The flowers: They are symbol of the festivity for their colors and aromatic stelae. They adorn and aromatize the place during the stay of the soul, which when leaving will be happy, the wallflower and the cloud can not miss because its color means purity and tenderness, and accompany the souls of the children. It is also customary to put paths of petals that serve to guide the deceased from the cemetery to the offering and vice versa.
- The bread of the dead: It is the representation of the “Body of Christ”, it is one of the most precious elements on the altar.
- The portrait of the remembered: This should be hidden, so that only can be seen with a mirror, to imply that the loved one can be seen, but no longer exists.
- Sugar skulls: They are an allusion to death always present.
- The liquor: It is for the deceased to remember the great pleasant events during his life and he decides to visit us.
- Purple, yellow and black chopped paper strings: They are the union between life and death. Black and purple are the colors of mourning and yellow or orange are those of life.
Are you missing any of these elements in your offering?