GARY, Texas — Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 for family and friends to gather, celebrate and be with loved ones who have passed away.
East Texas mother Nelly Segura spent an entire day making an ofrenda, which means offering in English, for her late son.
"It is something you are offering to your dead, to your loved ones (who are) dead," Segura said.
Segura explained that the tradition of Day of the Dead and ofrendas dates back many generations.
"It’s all about gathering the family with the dead," Segura said.
Tradition says that on Day of the Dead, the dead are allowed to come visit their loved ones back on Earth.
"That at least that day they have permission to come and be with family, we cook, drink a little, whatever they liked," Segura said.
For Segura, this ofrenda has a really special meaning for her.
"My son passed away four years ago and for a mother it’s really hard," Segura said.
Ricardo died in a car crash on his way to LeTourneau University in Longview. He was studying to be a pilot.
"He was a great son, a very smart one," Segura said.
Every part in an ofrenda has a meaning from the candles that light the way back home for the dead to the bright orange marigolds peppered across the ofrenda.
"It’s like the color that they follow to look where home is to come back. Everything that your dead would love. We also don’t forget to put the water because they walk very far," Segura said. "We put some salt for the connection with the Earth. You put food that whatever he liked."
Making an ofrenda is all for her son Ricardo, to let him know she still remembers and misses him. She knows she’ll see him soon.
"Everything that we do is for him, especially for him on his birthday, Christmas and all that as a treat, mostly because of how much I love him," Segura said.
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