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Pictures of Leaves
Pictures of Leaves
Photo by Timothy Eberly from Unsplash
Washington | Culture

Dia de los Muertos is for everyone

Dany Villarreal Martinez Student Contributor, University of Washington - Seattle
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Washington chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Growing up, I did not recognize the people my mom put on our ofrenda. They were all relatives who passed before I was born, so they were mere pictures of people I did not know. I knew they were significant, but they did not hold any value to my young life. That is, until our ofrenda began filling with people I knew and loved. 

In Mexican culture, Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is the day in which our deceased loved ones visit us from the world beyond this one. We welcome their visit with music, gathering, food, laughter, and, most importantly, an ofrenda. 

Dia de Los Muertos is not a sad event. It’s a time of remembrance and family unity; a time in which we can all remember where we came from. It is also a time of great consolation for those who might still be grieving (though does anyone really stop grieving?). Knowing the spirit of your loved one is around you can be a powerful reassurance that while they may have passed, a loved one never truly leaves. 

You do not have to be Mexican to commemorate the day of the dead. But if you ever get a chance to visit Southern Mexico for Dia de Los Muertos, go, and be prepared for the biggest Dia de los Muertos celebration in the world.

An ofrenda is one of the most important parts of Dia de Los Muertos. Everything, up to the colors of the altar, has a deeply-rooted meaning. If you want to participate in the next Dia De Los Muertos, or are simply curious about what everything means, here is a beginners list to the main aspects of the ofrenda. 

  • Photographs of the departed: to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. It’s thought that our deceased family members can only visit the living if there is a picture to tie them back to the physical world.
  • Personal items: an addition to the photographs that helps personalize a deceased’s spot on the ofrenda.
  • Sugar skulls, or calaveras: they signify the sweetness of life and inevitability of death, though they can also be a symbol of La Catrina. Do not eat these!
  • Flowers of Cempasuchil, or Marigolds: the scent of the marigolds help attract the spirits to the altar, and the vibrant yellow represents the sun. 
  • Candles: candles are important for bringing life and light to an altar. Traditionally, the candles are white while distinct colors have different meanings of life, death, grief, love. If a light flickers, it might mean the presence of a spirit. 
  • Food: pan de Muerto, among other foods, are offerings for the dead to show our love and appreciation. We often joke in our family that if there is no food, our ancestors are not visiting. 

If you do celebrate Dia De Los Muertos and are not Mexican, please be aware of the tradition and rich history behind the holiday. It is not “Mexican Halloween” or a mockery of death. It is only cultural appropriation if it comes from a place of ignorance. That said, do not let fear stop you from tapping into a new culture, as it makes the world richer when we share each other’s way of life. 

Dany Villarreal Martinez

Washington '25

Dany Villarreal is a Contributing Writer for Her Campus Washington. She is a senior at the University of Washington studying Journalism and Public Interest Communication with a minor in Law, Societies and Justice. Her dream job is to work as an international reporter covering diplomatic events and international relations. As a Mexican immigrant, her life goal is to give back to the immigrant community by providing truthful and accessible communication. After graduation, she is hoping to write community journalism and gain experience in investigations.


At Her Campus, Dany writes about personal experiences, mental health advice, life and wellness, immigrant/first generation experiences, and more. Dany's work has also been published on various publications, such as the International Examiner, WA Latino News, and Cascade PBS. Fun Fact: her first piece of published media was at the Daily UW, a review of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!

Dany was born and raised in Mexico but lives in Arizona. She has two dogs and a turtle waiting back at home, and many plant babies. She loves autumn, reading, writing, being outside, movies, game nights, live music, and travelling, photography, sports, and more.