Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

I've wanted to build a Day of the Dead altar for some time, but never have--until the other day. The more I learn about this celebration, the more I like it. Celebrating the dead and making light of death rather than fearing it, rather than it being a deep, dark, scary matter. In Catholicism, we know of this day as All Soul's Day. Google "Day of the Dead" and you'll find a ton of links. Here's a recent food-related article in the Los Angeles Times about the day. Here's our altar--a converted mantel.