Hi, I have taken inspiration from the ofrenda tradition of day of the dead and created an ofrenda for my grandmother year round. Has anyone else done this before? I've also taken inspiration from ancestor worship. Is there something I can put on it to signify all of my ancestors?
Part of it is to have photos and traditions celebrated during the time our family's spirits come to visit our home. Some families have photos and some families have story. I know that in my family we listen to our Abuelita as she recounts our families' history and what tribe we are from. We cook traditional food of our homeland and some family favorites and welcome our ancestors back into our hearts to bless us for the next year. If we still lived in our mother country we would probably go visit the families' burial site and leave offerings for our family on the other side.
Some people have a mantle or a mini shrine dedicated to their ancestors.
Some cultures follow traditions like during certain events; they do dances, painting, carvings, or wear traditional garb.
I think the thing to recognize your family's ancestors would be having the family name placed on your ofrenda. The name that is carried by all your family blood would be a good way to pay respect.
While I've never made an ofrenda [love the idea] I have heard of many people making ancestral altars and on Samhain I have placed photos, items, and offered favoured foods to my departed loved ones. I kind of have an "altar" to my departed loved ones, though I wouldn't call it that per sey. I have a book shelf with this small area that has a prayer candle of my father in law, a necklace with my godmothers ashes, and a few cards they sent me over the years on it. Sometimes I'll chat with them or just say hi as I walk by. It's not a cleansed space where I do actual workings with them, but it was a cleared space I could put my godmothers ashes, and then my father in laws candle, and there's a few cards from them I just don't want to put away.
If you're looking for something for all ancestors, perhaps a family crest, or a map of your ansentral home [say your families from Norway, a postcard or something that symbolizes Norway might work] you could also simply have a candle, or incense burning for them. If there's a fire issue an electric candle works too. If you have a family heirloom you could use that as well. You might also consider researching your genealogy and having a family tree put up. At the end of the day, I feel simply acknowledging your ancestors at your ofrenda can, in some way, honour all those before you.
