Community Ofrenda

This year, The Morton Arboretum will host a community ofrenda, and everyone is welcome to contribute. Crafted from Arboretum wood and decorated with cempasúchil (marigolds) and offerings to the departed, it will be on display at the Visitor Center from Monday, October 26, through Monday, November 2.

You can contribute to the ofrenda to remember friends or family members who have passed. Write a note or draw a picture with provided supplies to reconnect with friends or family members who have passed. Small objects of the type often used in Mexican ofrendas will be available for purchase at The Arboretum Store. (Note that any items left cannot be returned when the ofrenda is removed after November 2.)

At home, an ofrenda can be as simple as a candle and a photo. Candles are always part of an ofrenda, representing light, love, and remembrance. The altar may also include keepsakes, photos, or small toys for the spirits of children. Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) is a sweet bread offered to nourish visiting spirits. Families may offer fruits as symbols of abundance or favorite foods of their loved ones.