While skulls and skeletons may scream spooky season, they also take on a softer meaning as a symbol of joy, beauty of life and death intertwined. The tradition stems from the common belief that the border between the physical and spiritual worlds dissolves to allow spirits of deceased loved ones to briefly return to the world of the living during Día de los Muertos, as it approaches, from Nov. 1 to 2.

The days’ celebrations are surrounded by vibrant colors to remind families that this is a time of joy and remembrance, not mourning: Traditions like setting up an ofrenda are ways to welcome them home. This holiday serves as a reminder to embrace death as a part of life, and highlights the belief that, still, life continues elsewhere.

Ofrendas are altars that are specific to the Day of the Dead. They’re typically decorated with photographs of deceased loved ones, candles and offerings like water, favorite foods or pan de muerto, a traditional Mexican sweet bread baked for the holiday.

Bright bursts of color come from marigold flowers that surround the altar: The flower’s strong scent guides spirits in locating the altar. It’s also common to see papel picado, colorful decorative paper designed with cutouts, hanging above the altar.

These altars also include symbolism of the four elements: earth, water, fire and air. The food served represents earth, water signifies purification, candles represent fire and papel picado portrays air when it sways in the wind passing through.

During this time of spiritual and personal celebration, for those wanting to take part, here’s how to set up an ofrenda to honor loved ones.

Step 1

Find a clean, empty space near a wall and set a table against it. Boxes and crates can be stacked and used to make the different tiers.

Ofrendas are multitiered, and often have three levels: The top level represents heaven, the middle level conveys earth and the last level represents the underworld. However, the structure of the altar can vary between two and seven levels, depending on personal or familial traditions and how they choose to honor their loved ones.

Step 2

Before making tiers, cover the table in cloth to serve as the foundation for the ofrenda. A sarape, a long Mexican blanket with vibrant stripes of color and fringed ends, is traditionally used to cover the table, but any clean sheet will suffice. A clean cloth makes the table a welcoming space with a sacred offering.

Step 3

Add vases to the tiers. These vases can range from glass to hand-painted pottery. Talavera, pottery with intricate hand-painted colorful designs, is traditionally used to hold flowers; however, glass vases would also suffice because of their transparency, displaying water for purification and serving as one of the four elements.

Step 4

Frame your ofrenda using marigolds, the flowers of the dead. They can be found from flower vendors throughout Downtown’s Fashion District, though an alternative could be making flowers from tissue paper and wrapping them into garlands to hang above the altar.

These rich and vibrant flowers also attract monarch butterflies, which are seen as symbols for returning souls. Monarch butterfly migration lines up with the celebration of Día de los Muertos, which carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning in their journey.

Step 5

Adding sugar skulls to the ofrenda represents the departed souls and embodies the sweetness of life. The skull, a symbol of life’s full circle, is typically decorated in colorful designs to portray the joy of life and vitality over fear of death.

Step 6

Add the central element of the ofrenda: photos featuring lost loved ones and pets. Photos are set up on ofrendas to honor and remember deceased loved ones. It is also believed that photos help their spirits find their way to the altar.

Pets are usually celebrated Oct. 27, just before Día de los Muertos, so they can guide loved ones on their journey back, and their photos often stay on the ofrenda afterward. If no photos are available, alternatives like clothing can be used instead.

Step 7

Placing candles on the ofrenda contributes to the element of fire: The guiding light from their flame pulls departed spirits in as they navigate their way back to the world of the living. Many communities light one candle for each departed spirit.

For smaller enclosed spaces, electronic candles can be used as alternatives.

Step 8

Offerings are believed to comfort those visiting. There are offerings like salt to represent nourishment, water and pan de muerto. Other traditional food offerings include tamales and fruit. It is also tradition to add special offerings like the favorite foods and possessions of departed individuals as a way to honor them individually.

Step 9

Adding figurines to the ofrenda like La Catrina, who some say symbolize the Aztec goddess of the underworld, serves as a reminder that death is a natural, even joyful, part of life that everyone shares, much like celebrating Día de los Muertos as a whole.

Ofrendas can be made to serve an individual’s preference, but celebrating and remembering the lives of those who have departed can be shown in different ways. What truly matters is the celebration of life and honoring their memory through tradition, color and community.