Inside Día de Muertos: Symbols, Colors, and Traditions

I have celebrated Día de Los Muertos my whole life. This vibrant celebration is one of the most meaningful Mexican traditions, and since childhood, we have learned to celebrate Día de Muertos at home and in school.

Day of the Dead Symbols

Mictlan and Other Heavens. In Mexico City and across Latin America, local markets are filled with vibrant colors and intricate designs of papel picado, sugar skulls, and other Day of the Dead symbols. This colorful holiday reflects the cycle of life and death, blending Aztec traditions with Catholic beliefs introduced by the Spanish in the 16th century. Many pre-Hispanic symbols are part of a traditional altar de Muertos. Here are some of the most used for an ofrenda or altar de Muertos:

Pictures for day of the dead altar — My children’s paternal grandparents’ picture at the altar.

Dog: A clay dog is essential, believed to guide the soul to the underworld. The Mexican hairless dog, or Xoloitzcuintli, plays a significant role in this tradition.
Salt: Valued in pre-Hispanic times, salt was used by souls to bribe the guards at the entrance to Mictlan.
Candles and Veladoras: Representing faith and hope, a candle is placed for each deceased person.

mexican veladoras candles — Veladoras are long candles encased in glass, often featuring an image of a saint on the front.

Copal Incense: Copal, offered by indigenous people to their gods, and incense, introduced by the Spanish, are used to cleanse the space for the soul.
Marigold Flowers: Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are traditional, with their bright orange color and scent guiding souls to the altar.
Petate: A thick fabric used as a rug or blanket for souls to rest.
Mantle/Tablecloths: Used to place food for the souls.
Pan de Muerto: This circular bread with bone-shaped decorations is a cherished altar element.

traditional pan de muerto — Pan de Muerto is a special bread made exclusively for the Día de Los Muertos season.

Gollete and Sugar Cane: Golletes, wheel-shaped breads, and sugar cane symbolize the skulls of defeated enemies and the poles on which they were displayed.
Pictures of the Deceased: The altar is dedicated to the people in the photos.
Favorite Foods: The favorite food or beverage of the deceased, believed to be enjoyed by their spirit during the night.

huevos rancheros with chorizo — Favorite foods are prepared and placed on the altar for the deceased to enjoy.

Papel Picado: Traditional Mexican tissue paper decorations in vibrant colors.
Sugar Skulls: Decorate the altar and are eagerly awaited by children.
Favorite Things: From guitars to rifles, the favorite articles of the deceased are also set on the altar.
La Catrina: is a more modern addition to Día de Los Muertos, based on the iconic drawings by the political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada. La Catrina represents the high society of early 1900s Mexico, often depicted as an elegant female skeleton adorned in a stylish hat. Over time, she has become a famous symbol associated with Mexican Souls’ Day. I have a beautiful Catrina figurine that I bought in Mexico City, and I always include it on our altar as a tribute to this significant cultural icon.

Catrinas are the elegant dressed skeletons. — Catrinas are a popular asdition to the ofrenda.

Additional Symbols for Children’s Souls

The ofrenda for children, set up on October 31, is called the Day of the Holy Innocents or Día de los Santos Inocentes. Extra elements include:

Candies: Sugar candies shaped like baskets of fruit or traditional Mexican sweets.
Specific Flowers: Alhelí and nube, representing purity and tenderness.
Izcuintle Dog: A toy representing the native Mexican hairless dog, believed to help souls cross the river to Mictlan.

Day of the Dead Colors

The bright colors associated with Día de Muertos are linked to altar elements and their meanings:

Red: Represents the blood of life and, in Catholic tradition, the blood of Jesus.
Orange: Represents the sun and is often seen in marigold petals.
Yellow: Usually represented by marigold flowers, symbolizing death.
Purple: Represents pain, wealth, and royalty.
Pink: Symbolizes hope, purity, and celebration.
White: Represents purity and hope, often seen in white flowers.
Black: Represents the land of the dead.