Learn how to create a simple yet special Day of the Dead altar. Don’t miss the list of essential elements to include, along with an easy DIY tutorial on making papel picado step by step.

Creating a Day of the Dead Altar is all about cherishing memories and traditions, and the most rewarding part is enjoying the process itself.

Gather around the table with your kids, or even your dog if you prefer, and create papel picado together. Sip on hot cocoa, bring out old photo albums, and talk about cherished family memories.

While this celebration carries a hint of melancholy, it also offers a chance for joyful reflection. Let's focus on the positive aspects and celebrate the remarkable lives of our departed loved ones.

Note:

What I'm sharing with you isn't a traditional seven-tier altar. It's a homemade version—a simple way to create an altar in a corner of your home than anyone can recreate :)

Elements for a Dia de Muertos Altar:

Start by gathering these elements to be able to include them in your Day of the Dead altar.

1. Picture of Your Beloved One:

   Include a photograph of your beloved family member or friend, a focal point to honor their memory during the Dia de Muertos festivities.

   You can decorate the pictures for your altar using a frame like this one here: Free printable frame for Dia de Muertos.

2. Candles:

Candles play a crucial role, symbolizing fire. Their warm glow guides the spirits back home and represents the light that illuminates their path. Use any candle that you have available at home. In Mexico we usually get veladoras like these ones here in our altar.

3. Water:

Offer water to quench the thirst of the departed souls upon their arrival. It also symbolizes the element of water, essential for life and renewal. Additionally, you can include any other beverage that your beloved deceased enjoyed in life. It's common to add coffee, wine, beer, or various sodas as a personal touch to honor their preferences.

4. Seeds or Soil:

Include seeds or soil to represent the element of earth. This symbolizes growth, fertility, and the cycle of life that continues beyond death. Scatter the seeds around the ofrenda or place them in a small container as a meaningful addition.

5. Flowers (Cempasúchil):

Decorate with marigold flowers (cempasúchil), either real or crafted by you . These vibrant orange blooms are believed to attract and guide the spirits with their color and scent.

Here is a way to create marigold flower with tissue paper or with felt, which can be useful if you can’t find natural marigold flowers where you live.

6. Banquet:

Prepare a banquet featuring the favorite foods and beverages of your beloved ones. This gesture welcomes their spirits and honors their food preferences and traditions.

7. Sugar Skulls (Calaveras de Azúcar):

Include sugar skulls, or calaveras de azúcar, as sweet offerings to represent the cycle of life and death. Decorate them with colorful icing and the names of your loved ones to personalize each skull.

You can create a similar version using white chocolate like these skulls here: How to make chocolate skulls for dia de muertos. It’s an easier method and also a fantastic activity for kids to enjoy.

8. Papel Picado:

Papel picado is symbolic of the wind. It will add a delicate and airy touch to your altar.

Create your own using tissue paper with a simple tutorial provided below.

How to Make Papel Picado for your Day of the Dead Altar:

Simply fold the tissue paper and make cuts as desired—it will turn out well, I promise! But if you don’t know how to start, follow the steps below for a simple yet charming homemade version that's perfect for creating with kids.

1. Fold the tissue paper along the lines indicated in steps #1, #2, and #3 of the tutorial.

2. Next, proceed to cut out two semi circles as shown in image #5. This will create a shape similar to a flower.

3. Cut out some triangular shapes similar to those in image #6.

   Feel free to experiment with different shapes; whether you cut triangles, circles, or squares, the results will be visually appealing.

How to put together the altar for Dia de los Muertos?

This is a simple guide to help you create an ofrenda in your home. You don’t need to cover a large area of your walls; you can simply gather the elements for your ofrenda on a small table or in a corner of your house.

1. First, cover the table with a tablecloth or tissue paper.

2. Use tissue paper to create a backdrop for your ofrenda and add papel picado on top until you cover the walls.

3. Arrange the elements you gathered for your ofrenda. Check out the list above!

   Personally, I always include the elements that I mentioned above, such as candles, a glass of water, photographs of my beloved ones, a bowl of seeds, a sugar skull, and flowers. However, I understand that each year is unique, and sometimes I may not have time to gather all the elements. Still, I strive to incorporate items that symbolize water, wind, earth, and fire in some way.

I have seen many designs and ways to make altars for theDay of the Dead and I believe that every person should add their own special touches to them. Any extra detail, special food, special flowers your beloved one used to love will be a beautiful detail to add for your altar and you don’t need to follow any specific rules at all.

Check out more Day of the Dead crafts and DIY projects here: Day of the Dead Crafts.

More Day of the Dead DIYs and inspiration on my Pinterest board. You are going to love the ideas!