An ofrenda is an altar that is used to celebrate our loved ones who are no longer here with us. This usually takes place during the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos. The ofrenda is built on a table with a tablecloth and colored paper with patterns. An ofrenda consists of a number of items that represent our loved ones and items that were important to them. Some examples would be family photos, their favorite food/drinks, perfume, and the list goes on. My family also includes candles and crosses for Jesus Christ. This tradition is important to me because I get to honor my family members and keep their memories alive. My favorite thing about building an ofrenda is seeing photos of all of the different relatives I’ve never met before, like my great-great grandparents, and seeing all of their prized possessions. It gives me an idea of what they were like and helps me get to know them. Since this is passed down from generation to generation, I would like to keep it going and show my children how important it is for us to keep the tradition alive.

– Emily Beltran

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant