Ofrenda Installation

For a limited time only, the Connecticut Science Center will play host to a stunning Ofrenda crafted by local artisan Carlos Hernandez Chavez, and you can even contribute your own items to it. Day of the Dead, known as Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican custom with a rich history dating back to pre-Hispanic times. The Aztecs celebrated the deceased with rituals during the harvest season and saw death as part of the natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Among the traditions of this holiday is the construction of an Ofrenda, or altar, which families put together using a combination of cultural practices, religious imagery, and various objects. Ofrendas can be simple or complex, and they can be found in homes, cemeteries, churches, museums, and public squares.