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Ofrendas Exhibit and Competition

Virtual

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos by sharing a photo of your ofrenda for competition or for fun! Register here by October 26 for virtual exhibition. Winners will be announced on First Friday!

Register here to feature your ofrenda! Photos will be released on the library social media channels throughout the first week of November. You can choose to compete or just share for fun.  Please email your photo to teens@aurorapubliclibrary.org by October 26 for inclusion in the exhibit.  All ofrendas must be approved by the APLD Exhibits Review Committee prior to exhibition.

Guidelines for a Día de Muertos Ofrenda
Each ofrenda must contain a representative of the four elements. The offerings represent the four elements of life: water, air, earth and fire. The offerings are placed on the ofrenda for our deceased relatives who visit us on November 1st (All Saints Day) and November 2nd (All Souls Day). Ofrendas must contain a sample of foods that the deceased person especially favored in life. In addition, pictures and mementos and other tokens or respectful and applicable memorabilia are also appropriate to enhance and welcome the spirit.

Earth Element
Cempasúchil--The marigold is the traditional flower is the flower of muertos. Its vibrancy and peculiar aroma guide the dead to the offerings.
Food and fruit--These items are placed for the deceased remember to recall smell of food that they preferred in life.
Pan de Muertos--“Bread of the Dead” as well as the calaveras (sugar skulls), chocolate or amaranth, represent the current state of the deceased
Alcoholic beverage-- It is from fruit of the earth, and the flavor delights the spiritual visitor, especially if the ofrenda contains the favorite beverage of the deceased.

Air Element
Papel Picado--Hand cut out paper banners represent air. This traditional, brightly-hued decoration is special to this day to make it a festive, joyful celebration. The banners (or mats) serve to remind the living that we will live with our deceased relatives, who now exist in no sadness.
Sahumerio vessel--Cup which charcoal and copal or granulated incense is added. When lighted, the sahumerio produces an aromatic vanilla fragrance. Its smoke that works as a purifier of the space where other offerings on the ofrenda are placed.

Water Element
Glass of Water--A glass of water is always offered as it is believed that the dead make a long journey to visit us. They need to quench their thirst.

Fire Element
Candles serve to guide the deceased to the offering, along with the traditional flowers. The candles also signify that we keep the dead’s memories “burning in our hearts.”
Sahumerio also represents the element of fire.

If you wish to compete, please review the following criteria for judging:

1. color/colorful 25%
2. cultura/culture 25%
3. original/original 25%
4. creatividad/creativity 25%
Total 100%

Aurora Public Library District Exhibit and Display Policy: https://aurora.libnet.info/images/pdfs/aurora/Exhibit_Display_Policy.pdf

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