Traditional altars consist of an arcos, or arch, covered with marigold flowers. The arch is symbolic of a head board for the bed of those who have died and also of the arching heavens. Most altars also contain images of the Virgin Mary, pictures of the dead, momentos that remind the living of the dead, candles, and food and drink for the returning spirits.

For more information about the Day of the Dead Tradition and about altars, visit these sites:

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html

http://www.mamfw.org/muertos.htm

 

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Below is an altar memorializing the slain Colombians which was constructed in the Benson Library at the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Below is an example of a Day of the Dead Altar built by Clemencia Rodriguez at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Once you've built your own altar, e-mail us a photograph of it so we can put it on this website.

 

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