Marigolds: A symbolic flower for Dia de Los Muertos - The Cibolo Center for Conservation (2024)

FAQs

Marigolds: A symbolic flower for Dia de Los Muertos - The Cibolo Center for Conservation? ›

Those who celebrate this tradition believe the flower helps the dead find their way back to their loved ones in the living world through its vibrant color and strong scent. Because of these strong properties, marigolds or cempasuchiles are used to decorate altars or ofrendas and the graves of the deceased.

In addition to its decorative uses, the marigold serves a practical purpose in Day of the Dead rituals. Prized for their bright coloring and potent fragrance, marigolds are thought to attract the souls of the dead to the ofrendas prepared for them.

“Tradition says that the Sun God Tonatiuh gifted the flower to the Nahua so that they could remember and revere their loved ones who had passed away.”

Known in Mexico as 'the flower of the dead', the Mexican marigold plays a key role in the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. The blooms are used to decorate altars to the dead, known as 'ofrendas', with their bright orange colour and strong scent thought to help guide the spirits of the dead home.

Cempasúchil is the Aztec name of the marigold flower native to Mexico (Tagetes erecta). There are other flowers used for the holiday like chrysanthemums, co*ckscombs or gladiolas. But none are as memorable as the marigold.

In summary, the marigold flower meaning varies across cultures, often symbolizing purity, divinity, and the connection between life and death. Their vibrant colors and strong fragrance make them an essential part of various traditions, festivals, and rituals worldwide.

Throughout the Day of the Dead / Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, countless strands of marigold garlands decorate altars, homes, and gravestones, their vivid hues and strong fragrance are believed to guide the souls of the departed back to the world of the living.

Marigolds are very easy to grow and grow fast, which makes them great for children or gardening newbies. Marigolds need full sun all day to provide blooms all season long. Three common types are French, African, and Signet. Marigolds naturally repel pests such as deer or rabbits since they find their odor offensive.

Native to the Americas, marigolds have played an important ceremonial role in Mexico since pre-Columbian times—beginning with the Nahua, who believed the blooms were a gift from the sun god “so that they might honor their dead.”

What do marigolds represent in different cultures? ›

In fact, the use of marigolds as a symbol occurred in many cultures like Hindu, Buddhist, and Aztec. Marigolds were often linked to the powerful strength of the sun and represent power, strength, and light that lives inside of a person. The marigold has also come to symbolize a feeling of despaired love.

No matter what its variety, the marigold is rich in symbolism of Our Lady. The gold petals are likened to rays of light crowning her head, and the prodigal color is related to the generous giving of herself to God's plan. Sometimes described as 'the flower of grief', the marigold actually weeps on occasion.

Notably, the Aztecs believed that the pungent aroma and vibrant colors of marigolds had the power to beckon the souls of their departed loved ones back to their homes, adding a poignant and spiritual dimension to their cultural significance.

Marigold for Día de Los Muertos

It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit the living during the celebration. Marigolds guide the spirits to their altars using their vibrant colors and pungent scent. This is how a relative can still stay 'in touch' with the beloved deceased ones, a big comfort for the grieve.

They are known there as cempasuchil, an Aztec word, and are deeply rooted in ancient Aztec rituals and traditions associated with the goddess, Mictecacihual, the Lady of the Dead. According to legend, the marigolds' pungent odor and bright colors act as beacons to our loved ones home again.

For Day of the Dead and Halloween use suggested sowing time is middle July. “Chedi Orange, Yellow is a variety with large and firm flowers with a long shelf life, is tolerant to Soil borne diseases including fusarium, and has an excellent adaptability to a wide range of climates.” Approximate height 140 – 150 cm.

Marigolds are also seen as a way to offer comfort to the souls of the deceased, as their vibrant petals and earthy fragrance are said to be pleasing to the spirits. This is why you'll find marigold flower petals strewn on altars, graves, and even in homes during the festivities.

Marigold Uses and Benefits

Bees and other beneficial insects – Marigolds attract ladybugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects that protect your plants from aphids and other harmful pests. The blooms, particularly single-bloom cultivars, also draw bees and other important pollinators.

Specifically, marigolds are used because legend says that their vibrant colors and pungent scent help guide the spirits of the deceased back to their families' ofrendas.

Wrap a pipe cleaner around once or twice down the center and twist it closed. Carefully, separate the layers of tissue paper pulling them towards the center. Pull each layer up and fluff it to make it into a beautifully shaped marigold.