DĂa de Muertos
Our digital DĂa de Muertos altar celebrates your loved ones
Updated
DĂa de Muertos is upon us. Though death is central to the holiday, DĂa de Muertos is a celebration of life. It's an opportunity to remember loved ones who have died and honor their memory.
The traditional way of celebrating is by making an ofrenda — an altar that often features a photo of the person being remembered, candles, foods and items specific to them, cempasúchiles (marigolds), papel picado and calaveras (sugar skulls).
The holiday is observed in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. It has also gained popularity in Southern California thanks to groups like Self Help Graphics & Arts, which began organizing a public event in the 1970s. Nowadays, you can find DĂa de Muertos celebrations across the region.
Most, if not all, of these events were canceled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an alternative, the Los Angeles Times created a digital altar in 2021. The idea was to build a communal space where readers could still have the experience of celebrating their loved ones in public, albeit online. This year marks the third iteration of this project.
We asked you to submit photos of someone you wanted to honor, along with a memory or anecdote about them. Nearly 2,000 ofrendas were submitted. We encourage you to spend some time with these wonderful memories shared with us.
Ofrendas
Hover over the cards to see the messages submitted by their loved ones.
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Moses Gaskin
- Brittany Gaskin
Los Angeles

Jay Vargas
- Sharon Vargas
Los Angeles

Sylvia Rodriguez
- Vannessa Navarro
South Gate

Reno, Nathan, Stacy, dad, grandpas, Jesus
- Kimberly Ordonez
California

Manuel Pena
- Michelle Pena
San Juan Capistrano

Uncle Isaac
- Maddie G
Wildomar

Roberto Ochoa
- Nancy Ochoa
South Gate

Rudy Fuentes
- Raylene Barraza
Baldwin Park, CA

Rafael Cazares
- Destiny Cazares
Pomona

Alfredo cota (Tata Cota)
- Corina Cota
Los Angeles

Rodolfo camacho
- Yesica Camacho
Aliso viejo

Maria R. Lopez
- Raylene Barraza
Baldwin Park, CA

Margie and Camilo
- Laura Demoreno
San Diego

Larry Carr
- emma carr
San Pedro

Rosa Maria Patiño
- Maria Patiño Gutierrez
Lynwood

Jose Chavez
- Amairani G
Los Angeles

Olivia Duran
- emma carr
San Pedro

Jonathan Lechuga
- yaidely o
Palmdale

Eduardo Bustos (Grandpa Lalo)
- Jessica Smith
Hawthorne, CA

Berta Navarro
- Raul Navarro
California

Valentina
- Ashley Gabriel
Montebello, CA

Benjamin Calvillo
- Maria Calvillo
Wasco

Rene Hiram Barrios
- Yoel Bundio
California

Jose “Woody” Uriel Hernandez
- Carol Hernandez
Bell Gardens

Rafa
- Angie M
San Diego

Giovanni Graciano
- Marisol Graciano
San Bernardino

Rita Ruiz
- Valerie Navarro
California

Steven diaz
- Anonymous C
San Fernando, CA

Papá Mino
- Elvia Martinez
Long Beach, CA

Ruben Ramon Perez
- Karina Perez
Moreno Valley, CA

Samuel and Maria Benitez
- Joanna Benitez
West Covina

Cristobal ochoa
- Leticia Ochoa
Downey

Alberto and Celia Fontes
- Jan Contreras
Tucson, AZ

Michael Anthony Perez
- Lisa Cantero
Pacoima, CA

Elizabeth Ceceña
- Elina Ceceña
Apple Valley, CA

Ronnie Soto
- Angelica Guerrero
Bakersfield

Rudy Salas Jr
- Joanna Salas
Montebello

Manuel Alberto Soto jr.
- Jackie Castaneda
Long Beach

Rodolfo gil
- Lisa Cantero
Pacoima, CA

Domitila Guzman
- Rachel Pimentel
Los Angeles

Filimon V GarcĂa
- Alejandra garcia
Delano, CA

Damian Ramirez
- Amor Eterno
Hacienda Heights

Steven Salas
- Queen Liah
Carson

Joey Trejo
- Elizabeth Trejo
Whittier

Jessica Garcia
- Gisela Garcia
Wilmington

Dennis Delzangle
- Marina rodriguez
Upland

Michael James Wood
- Marina rodriguez
Upland

Leobardo Mendoza
- Jacqueline Garcia
Long Beach

Norma Moreno
- Linda Sabbagh
Rosemead

Adam and Marie Gracie
- Valerie Navarro
California

Gabriela Tello
- Celia Hart
San Juan Capistrano

Aunt Kat
- Gabrielle Garcia
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles

George
- Natalie Aquino
Los Angeles

Teresa Pasillas
- Norma Cortes
Long Beach, CA