You know that Día de los Muertos is approaching when you see the floral shops and stands pop up around the Pueblito. The lines to purchase the cempazuchitl are always long, as they have a significant meaning regarding the celebration. Be sure to get there early in the morning for a wider selection of freshly picked, fragrant flowers.
Marigolds or Cempazúchitl
Marigolds, or Cempazúchitl, are often called flowers for the dead, because the bright color and fragrance from the flower attracts the souls to their altar. Marigolds are the primary flower for the Day of the Dead celebration. The bright color is meant to bring life and happiness to death instead of sadness and grief.
Cockscomb
The bright, cheerful cockscomb is decorated on the altar and is an example of how the Catholic and Aztec culture intertwine. The bright red color symbolizes the blood of Christ and his resurrection from the dead. The brightness of the flower keeps the altar looking joyful.
Chrysanthemum
White chrysanthemums are used to symbolize peace, beauty, and sympathy. Chrysanthemums appear in funeral floral arrangements and Day of the Dead altars.
White Hoary Stock
White hoary stock is often used on altars to remember those who lost their life at a young age. This flower symbolizes beauty and simplicity with its delicate, sweet fragrance. Although this flower comes in different colors, the white symbolizes innocence.
Baby’s breath
Baby’s breath are many small, delicate flowers commonly used for Day of the Dead floral arrangements, altars, and gravesites. White baby’s breath are used in Day of the Dead arrangements due to cloud-like clusters being a great accent and design element.
Gladiolus
The gladiolus, often called the sword lily, is a long-stalked bloom that is laid on tombstones during Day of the Dead to represent remembrance and faithfulness.
How to make Paper Flowers for Day of the Dead
(Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog)
Day of the Dead flowers are used as decorations for the celebration. Real or paper marigolds and other Day of the Dead flowers appear on the altar. Making paper flowers is an easy, cost effective way to decorate for the celebration.
The supplies needed to create the paper flowers are:
- Orange and Yellow Tissue Paper
- Green Pipe Cleaners
- Scissors
- Ruler
The steps to create the paper flowers are:
- Take six sheets of orange or yellow tissue paper, measure and cut the tissue paper to be 4” in width and 9” in length
- Fold the tissue paper in an accordion-style lengthwise
- Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle to secure it
- Fan out the flower by pulling out a single layer of paper and repeating until all sheets of the tissue paper are pulled out
- Fluff out the flower and display
Celebrando Más Allá De La Vida 