Understanding the Tradition and Its Costs
As millions of families gear up to set up their Día de Muertos altars, a cherished tradition passed down through generations, many are wondering about the expenses for 2025. This celebration involves various elements such as food, beverages, personal items, photographs, and decorations.
Breakdown of Costs
- Paper cutouts (Cortinas de papel):
- 2025: Two pieces for 90 pesos.
- 2024: Two pieces for 80 pesos.
- Other decorations:
- 2025: 50 pesos.
- 2024: 50 pesos.
- Candles (Veladoras):
- 2025: Three candles for 45 pesos.
- 2024: Three candles for 36 pesos.
- Bread of the Dead (Pan de muerto):
- 2025: Two small pieces for 30 pesos.
- 2024: Two small pieces for 24 pesos.
- Chocolate skulls (Calaveritas de chocolate):
- 2025: One piece for 30 pesos.
- 2024: One piece for 25 pesos.
- Pumpkin and sweet potato candies (Dulces de calabaza y camote):
- 2025: One piece of each for 60 pesos.
- 2024: One piece of each for 40 pesos.
- Flowers (Flores):
- 2025: Two bunches of cempasúchil for 70 pesos.
- 2024: Two bunches of cempasúchil for 50 pesos.
- Fruits (Fruta):
- 2025: A quarter kg of mandarin for 5 pesos.
- 2024: A quarter kg of mandarin for 3 pesos.
- 2025: A quarter kg of orange for 6 pesos.
- 2024: A quarter kg of orange for 3 pesos.
- 2025: A quarter kg of guava for 10 pesos.
- 2024: A quarter kg of guava for 7 pesos.
- Cigars (Cigarros):
- 2025: Four loose cigars for 40 pesos.
- 2024: Four loose cigars for 28 pesos.
- Tequila:
- 2025: A bottle for 120 pesos.
- 2024: A bottle for 100 pesos.
- Beer (Cerveza):
- 2025: One can for 35 pesos.
- 2024: One can for 25 pesos.
- Coca-Cola:
- 2025: 20 pesos
- 2024: 17 pesos
- Mole with chicken (Mole con pollo):
- 2025: 160 pesos.
- 2024: 140 pesos (price not confirmed).
Budgeting Tips from Profeco
The Federal Procurator for Consumer Affairs (Profeco) recommends planning your budget, making a list of necessary items or altar components like paper picado, cempasúchil flowers, water, salt, candles or veladoras, bread of the dead, copal or incense. They also suggest considering the reuse of decorations from previous years.
Profeco advises buying only what is necessary and doing so ahead of time to avoid last-minute rushed purchases and inflated prices. They encourage taking advantage of promotions and real deals offered by establishments and always comparing prices.
What Should Be Included in the Altar?
The altar can be composed of products and foods that depend on each family’s taste and budget, not necessarily adhering to traditional altar elements.
Some common elements might include foods the deceased enjoyed in life, accompanied by traditional items like bread of the dead, tamales, atole, fruits, sweets, and sugar or chocolate skulls.
Here’s what typically features in altars and their significance, according to the National Council for Culture and Arts and the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples:
- White cloth (Mantel blanco): Symbolizes purity and joy.
- Water: To quench the thirst of the deceased and wash their hands.
- Salt: An element of purification, ensuring the body doesn’t corrupt during its journey.
- Candles and veladoras: Provide light to guide their way back to their former dwelling.
- Copal and incense: Used to cleanse the area of negative energies, allowing the soul to enter.
- Sugar skulls: Represent replicas of human skulls, an altar used by Mesoamerican cultures: tzompantli.
- Paper cutouts (Papel picado): Symbolize air and add a festive touch to the altar.
- The izcuintle: A toy dog guiding them across the river separating them from the land of the dead.
- Flowers: Alhelí and the cloud represent purity and tenderness, placed for deceased children. Cempasúchil and its color represent the sun, guiding the deceased’s soul.
- Alcoholic beverages and cigars: Placed for adult deceased who smoked and drank. The liquor is for the souls to remember great moments filled with joy.
Key Takeaways
Cost Variation
The expenditure on setting up a Día de Muertos altar ranges from approximately 380 pesos to nearly 4,000 pesos, according to a survey. Consumers reported spending up to 23% more this year compared to 2024.
Budgeting Advice
Profeco’s recommendations for managing costs include planning your budget, listing necessary items, reusing previous year’s decorations, and taking advantage of promotions. Remember, the altar’s composition can vary based on personal preferences and budget.
