One of the most distinctive aspects of Mexico’s Día de Muertos happenings is the ubiquitous practice of mounting altars dedicated to persons counted among the dead.
The individual honored in an altar may be a public figure distinguished for contributions to society, or a beloved spouse, family relative or close friend of whomever creates the display.
The custom has roots in the rituals of both pre-Hispanic cultures and Christian doctrine, accentuating the synthesis of new and old-world belief systems.
While there are common elements seen in most altars, there are no hard, fast rules about how they are composed. The offerings placed on the altars are replete with symbolic and aesthetic features intended to draw the spirits of the dead back home for a holiday visit.
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