How to build an altar for 'Day of the Dead', in Mexico.

An altar /ˈɑːltɚ/ is a combination of traditions with both symbols:
- Prehispanica indigenous cultures
- Christian culture.

They often include multiple levels, the most common are:

- Two levels (representing Heaven and Earth)
- Three levels (representing Heaven, Purgatory and Earth)
- Seven levels (representing the seven steps necessary to reach Heaven):
     1.- The first (1st) step: an image of a Saint to whom the departed loved-one was particularly devoted.
     2.- The second (2nd) step: and image of souls in purgatory.
     3.- The third (3rd) step: salt (for purifiction).
     4.- The fourth (4th) step: bread (dead bread).
     5.- The fith (5th) step: foods and favourite fruits or the loved-one.
     6.- The sixth (6th) step: photographs of the loved-one.
     7.- The seventh (7th) step: a cross, or rosary, made from either seeds or fruits like tecojote and lime.




Among the traditional offerings can also be found:
- water
- candles
- frankincense
- floral arches
- papel picado (rectangular bits of paper with different designs cut into them)
- flowers (especially the traditional orange or yellow cempazuchitl)
- skeletons,
- favourite drinks (tekila, beer, rompope and wine)
- favourite objects of the departed...

or even more.