Ofrendas

These are two good examples of the ofrendas (or altars with offerings) made to celebrate the lives of the dead on Nov. 1st, Dia de los Muertos. They can be seen around Sonoma County often for much of the month of October. I think they also recognize  Halloween in an authentic and wonderfully colorful way.

Every home altar is created by family members of those who have died, and is intended to celebrate their lives and help the spirits of the dead.   find their way home. Every ofrenda includes the four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. Water is left in a pitcher or cup so the spirits can quench their thirst.  Paper banners, Papel picado, represent the wind and earth is represented by food, especially bread,  so that the spirits can come back and enjoy the pleasures of life. Candles provide the fire and light the way for the return of the spirits of the dead.

The ofrenda  is a means of maintaining a strong connection not only with the deceased but with the past.. It is a reminder that death is a natural part of the human experience and that the spirits of the deceased should be welcomed and celebrated. Altars with two levels represent heaven and earth, The addition of a third incorporates hell. Further layers celebrate the journey.

Specific elements of an ofrenda  are personal and vary accordingly, but some common components include photographs, candles, Cempasúchil (marigolds), food and beverages, sugar skulls, paper banners, personal belongings, religious symbols, and incense.

The two examples of ofrendas that I posted today were found at the farmers' market (bottom) and The Red Barn Store, a farmstand in the Sonoma Valley. We forget about it for most of the year, but we always find ourselves back at this delightful store in the autumn. Their flower bouquets and wreaths, strings of peppers hanging from the ceiling, and homemade soaps and lotions are all a perfect example of the bounty of the harvest and the colors of the season.