Dia De Los Muertos

Día de los Muertos Decorations: Symbols, Traditions, and Inspiration

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a multi-day celebration honoring loved ones who have passed. Rooted in Mexican tradition, it blends Indigenous rituals with Catholic influences to create a joyful remembrance filled with music, food, and vibrant displays.

Families build altars, or ofrendas, adorned with meaningful objects and symbols that tell a story of connection between life and death. Explore and learn more about the history and customs in our Día de los Muertos feature.

Popular Day of the Dead Decorations

A true Día de los Muertos display is rich in symbolism and color. Popular sugar skull decorations represent the sweetness of life, often painted with bright designs to reflect an individual's unique personality.

Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are known as "flowers of the dead", and are believed to guide spirits back to the living world. You can create your own faux-floral arrangements with lifelike plants and flowers to bring the same vibrant warmth indoors, without the upkeep of fresh bouquets.

Other traditional touches include intricately handcrafted papel picado banners, butterfly motifs symbolizing the soul's journey, and skeleton figurines like the iconic La Catrina dressed in festive attire. These classic elements can be paired with personal mementos, picture frames, and candles to create a meaningful altar for honoring family and friends.

How to Decorate for the Day of the Dead

1. First do your research on the origins of this very important holiday! Understand what it means to the Mexican people, and always act with respect when adopting a cultural practice outside of your own.
2. Create an Ofrenda: Start with a small table or shelf and cover it with a colorful cloth or embroidered runner. Add framed photos of loved ones, marigold stems, candles, and meaningful objects. 
3. Layer Symbolic Pieces: Incorporate sugar skulls, papel picado, and butterfly accents for extra texture and tradition.
4. Add Food and Drink: Offer favorites your loved ones enjoyed in life, such as pan de muerto, traditional sweets, or items from our tasty Mexican foods collection.
5. Fill the Space with Light: Use candle holders, lanterns, or string lights to create a warm and inviting glow.

What the Decorations Symbolize

• Sugar Skulls: The beauty and impermanence of life
• Marigolds: Guidance for spirits returning home
• Candles: Light to illuminate the path for loved ones
• Butterflies: The soul's transformation and journey
• Papel Picado: The fragility of life, represented in delicate cut tissue paper

Colors of Día de los Muertos

Each hue has a special meaning: orange for sun and marigolds, pink for celebration, white for purity, purple for mourning, and yellow for life and light. Together, they create a joyful, meaningful palette.

For even more festive touches, you can blend Day of the Dead decor with pieces from our holiday ideas collection or mix in accents from our Halloween decorations for a spirited seasonal display!