An ofrenda is an offering placed in a home altar during the annual and traditionally Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration. It is a way to commemorate the souls of loved ones who have passed away. The ofrenda is usually created by the family members of the deceased person and may be quite large and elaborate. A common format for an ofrenda contains three levels or tiers:

• The topmost tier identifies the dead person who is being invited to the altar, frequently with photos of the deceased, along with images of various saints, statuettes of the Virgin Mary, crucifixes, etc. which are positioned in a retablo which forms the back of the altar.
• On the second tier are things placed to encourage the dead to feel at home and welcome, such as the deceaseds favorite foods, drinks, and personal items that belonged to them.
• The third tier is set up so that the returning dead can refresh themselves upon arrival at the altar, with water, candles, and cleansing copal incense that is said to ward away evil spirits.

Other elements of the ofrenda may include papel picado, which serves as a colorful and meaningful trim, and marigold petals, which are often picked and spread in a pathway to lead the way. The ofrenda typically features types of decorations that are representative of the four elements:

• Candles are lit on the table to symbolize the element of fire.
• Papel picado represents the element air because it is so lightweight, you can see how the wind moves it.
• Food represents the element earth since it is solid and is grown in the ground.
• The element of water is represented by the glasses of water.

Ofrendas can be customized to your liking, but many of them have some key elements:

• Photos of your friends and family
• Candles and incense
• Water
• Cempasúchil, or marigolds
• Sweets
• Your loved ones favorite foods
• Decorations, such as skulls and tissue paper flowers

The significance of the ofrenda is that it is left for the souls of the deceased to come back and be able to enjoy their worldly pleasures once more. It acknowledges that the soul lives beyond the body of the deceased and is mobile between heaven, hell, and purgatory. While the concept of the ofrenda is not necessarily a rigid one, it is an important part of the Day of the Dead celebration and a way to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away.