I thank Saint Peter for letting Salome Pineda who died in a car accident to come and eat the offerings on October 28, the day of the killed. I told her how much I love her and that she shouldn’t worry and that I look after her two sons from her third marriage.

The cuckold, 28–10–2000

I give thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus for letting me to put my offerings once again this year. It’s very important for me to never forget my beloved ones, and I fell them even closer to me during these All Saints’ feasts. I know they are happy to come and enjoy what I put, with great love, to their altar.

Adelaida Reyes ~ Oaxaca, Mexico

The Day of the Dead, I decided to put an altar for my recently deceased wife and I cooked her favorite dishes. At night I heard some voice calling me. I went to the sitting-room and I saw, to my astonishment, that it was my wife scolding me for bad cooking and oversalting the food. I thank Saint Michael the Archangel for it was only that night when I saw my grumpy complaining wife, since she was also unbearable when she was alive.

Aniceto Ruiz ~ Puebla

I decided to put offerings for my late wife on the Day of the Dead and prepared her favorite dishes. On that night I heard someone calling me. When I came to the kitchen I saw that it was my wife telling me off because the food was too salty. I thank God for it was only one time that night when I saw my grumpy wife again because she was unbearable in real life.

I thank the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe for letting me put offerings to my dead. I saved some money for everything—mole, tequila, sweets, flowers, tamale. I beg for my dear ones so they rest in peace and find eternal light.

Thanks, Holy Virgin, for your help on the Day of the Dead when we went to the cemetery to bring flowers to my uncle Reinaldo, may he rest in peace. Suddenly two gringos fell on the grave because it was raining quite heavily. But thanks because, although they fell right on the grave, they didn’t smash the offerings for my uncle so he could eat properly. That’s why I thank for your mercy.

My mother told me not to eat the offerings we put to my grandfather on the Day of the Dead because if I do eat he would come at night and grab my legs. I didn’t believe it and I secretly ate some pastry from the altar. That night I was woken by my grandfather’s spirit. He was very angry and scolded me. I prayed the Lord of the Wonders, and little by little the spirit disappeared. For that I promise not to be so naughty and gluttonous.

Luisito Rodriguez ~ Puebla, Mexico

In my family we used to bring offerings to our dead relatives. But when I became independent and began to live alone, I felt too lazy to put an altar and decided to decorate my house for Halloween instead. The night of the Day of the Dead I was greatly frightened by seeing that my grandparents appeared to me and they were very angry with me for not giving them offerings. I thank Saint Michael for they didn’t take me to a better world, and I promise not to forget my Mexican traditions.

I dedicate this retablo to the always Holy Virgin of Guadalupe. The Night of the Dead, I was glad I’d been able to collect some money to put up my altar with lot of offerings, including even mole and pulque. At the last moment, a sparkle fell on me and I was taken by fire immediately, but thanks to the Virgin’s intervention nothing happened.

Eulalia Garcia

The night of the Day of Dead, I woke up to drink a glass of water and got very frightened seeing the dead eating the food from the altar we made in honor of my grand-mother. I prayed Saint Michael the Archangel so that he would rest their souls. And right that moment, they disappeared. I dedicate this retablo in gratitude.

Teofilo Guzman
Tlaxcala, 1958

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for the opportunity to arrange a beautiful altar for my late grandparents, uncles and aunts for the Day of the Dead. In this way I can tell them that there is a lot of their essence is still around and they aren’t completely dead because we remember them and we offer to them flowers, food and candles to tell how we love them.

When my husband Juan Jose died, I was sad and couldn’t find any consolation. We loved each other so much, and I couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing him again. I asked the Virgin to let me see him. And she gave me that. So now every Day of the Dead, I put the altar and bring the offerings, and then my husband appears for a few seconds. So I can keep his image in my memory and find strength to live on without him.