Our Home Altar

Today Lourdes, Cristina, and I made an ofrenda, or home altar, in memory of our loved ones: Cristina's mother and sister, Lourdes' mother and two brothers, and my parents and Panchito. Prehispanic tradition says that our departed loved ones come back to visit us once a year on this date. We put out water to quench their thirst after their long journey, their favorite foods, and things that we know they will be pleased to see: a rosary; a picture of Secretariat, the greatest race horse ever; square dancing; and Panchito's toy mouse. A trail of marigold petals marks the way, and candles tell them they have arrived at the altar created to honor their memory.

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