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Honor Deceased Loved Ones with the 'Day of the Dead' Altar

A Day of the Dead altar is on display in Duke Chapel from October 3 through November 2. An "Ofrenda" in Spanish, the altar invites visitors to honor deceased loved ones by adding photographs and other symbolic objects.

How to Participate
Related Events and Services
Learn More

A low-angle shot from behind an older man who is looking at a Día de Muertos altar (ofrenda). The altar is brightly decorated with several large, colorful sugar skull sculptures. The largest skull is light yellow, decorated with flowers and a wide, toothy grin, and topped with an arch made of yellow and orange marigold garlands.

Now in its third year, the Ofrenda returns to the Chapel in conjunction with our All Hallows' Eve (Halloween) service and in collaboration with Duke Arts and Say the Thing, as a way to bridge faith and learning and also foster cultural understanding and togetherness. This year’s altar features large, colorfully painted calaveras (skulls) created by artists from the Inter-Latin American Artist Collective (ILAAC), as well as cempaxochitl (marigolds), papel picado (cut paper), and alebrijes (mythical creatures) painted on rocks. These traditional elements will be joined by new creations made in Duke Arts Create community workshops.

In addition to its cultural and artistic significance, the Ofrenda can be part of religious practices, especially in the Roman Catholic church, because it is in accord with the church’s understanding of life after death. The objects on an Ofrenda remind Catholics of deceased loved ones, prompting them to pray for the souls of the faithful departed in purgatory and also to contemplate those already in heaven in the presence of God.

Visit the Ofrenda on your own or join us for special events leading up to Día de los Muertos on November 1 and 2. Your participation will help weave a tapestry of memories and stories that transcend time and honor the enduring significance of this cherished tradition.

The Ofrenda is presented this year in partnership with these campus groups: Duke Mexican American Student Alliance, Mi Gente, Duke Catholic Center, and the Hispanic House of Studies at Duke Divinity School.

Introducing the Ofrenda

Two students who are helping to support this presentation of the Ofrenda—sophomores Elizabeth Escobar Gomez and Melanie Perez-Romero—introduce the altar in these videos in English and Spanish.

How to Participate

A close-up of a vibrant Día de Muertos altar (ofrenda) densely covered with offerings. The foreground is dominated by garlands of white paper chains with handwritten names on them, mixed with large, colorful tissue paper flowers in orange, yellow, and red.

All visitors to the Ofrenda are invited to contribute by adding photographs and objects that are representative of a departed loved one.* Examples of objects could be paintings, letters, or handmade flowers. While a loved one’s favorite food is traditional to offer during Day of the Dead, we ask that you leave only non-perishable food items, and no liquids at all. We encourage you to substitute perishable foods with photos, drawings, labels, or other creative alternatives.

Become part of the Ofrenda by writing the name of a departed loved one on a strip of paper, then adding it to the paper chain draped across the altar. Each link is a story, a memory, a life woven into a shared tribute. As the chain grows, so does this living memorial—gathering the love, grief, and joy of our community. Materials are provided; simply follow the instructions on site to add your link to this collective remembrance.

Explore your own story by stepping inside Say the Thing’s Booth, located next to the Ofrenda. Inside The Booth, select prompt #1, and record a special video postcard memorializing a favorite memory of your departed loved one. This
private video recording will be sent directly to your inbox, a cherished token in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

*Please note that we are unable to return offerings to the original owner, so please do not leave anything valuable or irreplaceable.

Related Events and Services

Ofrenda Screen Printing
Monday, October 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Arts Annex
This two-hour workshop will cover the basics of screen printing: putting images on screens (making a stencil), ink mixing, and how to effectively use a squeegee. Learn more.

close-up shot of a person's hands holding a gold-colored squeegee over a screen printing frame. The screen is covered with a layer of teal-colored ink. The person's forearms are visible, and they are wearing a few rings and two blue woven bracelets.

Calaveras Painting
Thursday, October 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Participants will paint five-inch rocks to create a calavera, following designs used by Mexican artisans to paint alebrijes (spiritual creatures). Learn more.

A close-up overhead shot displays nine smooth river stones painted with vibrant, detailed sugar skull or Calavera designs for Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). The skulls feature bright colors like lime green, orange, purple, and blue, with hearts, flowers, and intricate patterns.

Papel Picado
Thursday, October 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Duke Chapel crypt
This class will teach the student how to produce paper cempaxochitl (marigolds) and papel picado (cut paper). Learn more.

A multi-tiered Día de Muertos altar (ofrenda) is covered in vibrant purple and hot pink fabric. The altar is densely decorated with dozens of sugar skulls in white, black, and bright pink, along with lit orange candles and bright marigold flowers. A framed photograph or image sits on the middle tier, surrounded by small offerings.

¡Recuérdalos! Canciones y Celebraciones para el Día de Los Muertos
Tuesday, October 21, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Quadrangle (beside Duke Chapel)
Enjoy this musical celebration honoring the lives and memories of those who came before us, blending tradition, community, and joy. Learn more.

A group portrait of seven college-aged musicians from a Mariachi band posing outdoors on a sunny day. They are all wearing matching attire: white shirts with ruffles, black pants, and blue patterned bow ties. They are holding various instruments, including guitars and violins.

All Hallows' Eve Service
Friday, October 31, from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. in Duke Chapel
This service is a festival in the church that recalls the faith and witness of those who have carried on and cherished the Christian faith throughout history. Learn more.

A low-light close-up shot of two young adults holding candles and reading from books during a nighttime service. The light from the candles illuminates their faces and the pages of their books.

All Saints' Mass
Saturday, November 1, from 12-noon to 1:00 p.m. at Duke Catholic Center's Falcone-Area House
The Catholic Church celebrates and honors all holy men and women, known and unknown, on All Saints' Day. Learn more.

A slightly wide-angle photo shows a group of about 30 young adults and a few older adults gathered in a bright, modern-looking chapel for a service. They are standing and facing a wooden altar where a clergyman in white vestments stands. Above the altar is a stylized wooden crucifix, and to its right is a golden sunburst art piece.

All Saints' Sunday Service
Sunday, November 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Duke Chapel
Join us in worship that offers stirring preaching, inspiring sacred music, and faithful prayer. Learn more.

A medium shot of a religious service in a cathedral. A clergyman in a white robe and green stole stands behind a large altar covered with a green and purple patterned cloth. He is leading a prayer with his hands outstretched.

Choral Evensong Requiem Eucharist
Sunday, November 2, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Duke Chapel
For centuries, the church has marked the transition from daytime to evening in this Evensong service with psalms, prayer, and song. Learn more.

A large choir of about twenty people, dressed in white robes with some wearing dark blue or purple stoles, stands in a church and sings from black binders of sheet music.

Learn More

Watch a 2024 panel discussion, which delved into the diverse and varying traditions of the Ofrenda.