Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage, to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away. The holiday is intended as a positive honoring of the dead, and it has a much less solemn tone than other remembrance holidays. One of the most important aspects of the holiday is the preparation of altars, called ofrendas, that serve as a tribute to the deceased. These altars are decorated with things that the person loved during their life, and food is a crucial component of the altars specifically and of Day of the Dead as a whole. Here are some details about the products used in Day of the Dead celebrations:
Positive:
- Sweet smelling flowers
- Traditional dishes for the Day of the Dead, such as Pan de Muerto, Mole Negro, and Pozole
- Water, wind, earth, and fire, which are included in every ofrenda
- Copal incense, made from tree resin, which transmits praise and prayers and purifies the area around the altar
Negative: There are no negative products associated with Day of the Dead.
Ingredients or materials:
- For the Pan de Muerto, ingredients include flour, sugar, eggs, butter, orange blossom water, and yeast.
- For Mole Negro, ingredients include chili peppers, spices, nuts, seeds, and chocolate.
- For Pozole, ingredients include hominy, meat (usually pork), garlic, cumin, diced green or red chili peppers, and various other spices.
- Copal incense is made from tree resin.
In addition to food, other items that are commonly included in ofrendas include photos of deceased loved ones, candles, perfumes, and anything else that brings back their memory.
