 One
of the most important aspects of the Dia de los Muertos (Day of
the Dead) celebration for many families is the creation of a memorial altar
for the departed, known as an ofrenda. The ofrendas are
erected in the home and decorated with items that the deceased enjoyed in
life. Special offerings are laid out with the intention of calling home
the spirits of the dead, such as pan de muertos (bread of the dead)
baked in shapes of skulls and figures, as well as the traditional Day of
the Dead flower, the marigold. Family photographs are often set out on the
altars to recall the individuals being honored. Colors used to decorate
the ofrendas include purple to signify mourning and hot pink or
bright orange to signify the joyful return of the departed
Teachers and students from Guadalupe Alternative Programs, a school located
on St. Paul's West Side, created the ofrendas displayed here.
This educational program has a tradition of sharing the ofrendas
they create with the community during the holiday. The school's ofrenda
display will be open to the public from October 24 through November 4,
2002 at 381 East Robie Street.
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