Many families observe the holiday by setting up a home altar — called an “ofrenda” — adorned with flowers and photos of deceased loved ones. Decorated painted skulls, ofrendas with candles ...

Every year, we build home altars dedicated to our relatives who have died. We decorate these altars with cempasúchil flowers, sugar skulls, bread, candles, and dishes our relatives enjoyed.

Many frame such images and objects that have touched the saint and keep them on home altars. I’ve seen some even on altars in Mumbai,” says Pantaleao, whose own altar at home is packed with ...