Heidi Norton
Incense plays a significant role in the Day of the Dead celebrations, with Copal incense being the most commonly used variety. Copal is derived from the copal tree and is believed to symbolise the transformation from the physical to the supernatural. It is burned to purify the souls of the spirits and elevate prayers to the heavens and the gods. Copal is placed on or near altars to draw in the spirits with the smell of smoke and is often burned in clay incense burners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of incense | Copal |
| Copal origin | Copalli incense comes from the copal tree |
| Copal in ancient times | Copal was burned in Mesoamerica and was food for the gods |
| Copal in modern times | Copal is burned on or near Day of the Dead altars to draw in the spirits |
| Copal in modern times | Copal is burned to purify the souls of the spirits and to elevate the prayers of friends and family to God |
| Copal in modern times | Copal is burned to purify and cleanse the air |
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What You'll Learn
- Copal is the name of the incense used on the Day of the Dead
- Copal is burned to purify the souls of the spirits
- The incense's smoke takes the prayers to the heavens and the gods
- Copal is placed on or near Day of the Dead altars to draw in the spirits
- Incense is burned on an ofrenda to help draw the souls in with the smell of smoke
Copal is the name of the incense used on the Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a holiday filled with symbols, traditions, and imagery. Each detail represents something significant and special in the remembrance of loved ones. One such symbol is the use of copal, a traditional incense burned during the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Copal is an aromatic tree resin that is central to incense-making in the Americas. It is derived from the Bursera bipinnata tree, and the word "copal" comes from the Náhuatl word "copalli", which simply means "incense". The use of copal incense dates back to ancient times in Mesoamerica, where it held ritualistic significance for the Aztec and Mayan cultures.
In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, copal was considered "food for the gods". It was a necessary daily sacrifice to sustain and nourish the deities in almost all Mesoamerican religions. The Maya, for example, believed that burning copal produced smoke that became spirit-sustaining tortillas for the gods to eat. The Aztec and Maya also used copal in various energy cleansing ceremonies and to make protective or purifying remedies.
During the Day of the Dead, copal incense is burned to purify the souls of the spirits and to elevate the prayers of friends and family to God. It is often placed on or near altars to help guide the spirits back to the land of the living and to draw in the souls of the deceased with the smell of smoke. The rising smoke is believed to carry the prayers of the living up to the heavens and the gods.
Today, copal is not widely burned during Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, but it remains an important part of the observance in certain regions, particularly in the cemeteries and churches of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Michoacan, where big clouds of copal smoke can still be experienced.
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Copal is burned to purify the souls of the spirits
Copal is a traditional incense that is burned during the Day of the Dead celebrations. The word "copal" comes from the Náhuatl word "copalli", which means "incense". Copal is made from the resin of the copal tree, or Protium Copal (Burseraceae), and has been used in Indigenous practices for thousands of years.
Burning copal during the Day of the Dead is believed to create a liminal and sacred space that helps to purify the souls of the spirits and guide them back to their bodies. The smoke from the copal is thought to act as an olfactory lure, connecting the souls of the dead to their physical remains. This belief may have originated from pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, where copal was seen as a necessary daily sacrifice to sustain and nourish the deities. In these ancient cultures, copal was often moulded into ceremonial corn cobs, representing the staple crop of the gods, just as maize was the staple crop of humans.
Copal is also believed to have healing, protective, and guiding properties during the Day of the Dead. It is used to empower objects and rituals, and to connect with the spirits of loved ones who have passed away. The scent of copal is thought to create a separate space from the day-to-day bustle of life, allowing people to commune with the spirits and honour their departed loved ones.
While copal burning was once forbidden at Church services in Mexico and Central America due to efforts to suppress indigenous religions, it has persisted as an important part of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Today, copal is burned graveside and at family memorial altars called "ofrendas", where it is placed alongside symbolic items such as salt, water, bread, and the deceased person's favourite items.
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The incense's smoke takes the prayers to the heavens and the gods
The Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a holiday filled with beautiful symbols, traditions, and imagery. Each detail represents something significant and special in the remembrance of loved ones. The holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries, with some celebrations also taking place in cities like Los Angeles.
The incense used during the Day of the Dead is called Copal, which comes from the copal tree. The word "copal" comes from the Náhuatl word "copalli", which means "incense". Copal is an aromatic tree resin that is central to incense-making in the Americas. It is burned during the Day of the Dead as another olfactory element to draw in the spirits of the deceased. The rising smoke takes the prayers to the heavens and the gods.
Copal was also used in ancient Mesoamerica by pre-Columbian Aztec and Mayan cultures. It was considered food for the gods and was a necessary daily sacrifice to sustain and nourish the deities in almost all Mesoamerican religions. The indigenous Lacandón, a Mayan people living in the modern-day state of Chiapas, believed that burning copal was akin to grinding corn, and the smoke became spirit-sustaining tortillas for the deities.
Copal is burned during the Day of the Dead to purify the souls of the spirits and to elevate the prayers of friends and family to God. The incense is burned on an ofrenda, or altar, to help draw the souls in with the smell of smoke. The altars are built to welcome and guide the souls to their altars, and the incense is often placed on or near the altars. The belief is that the souls are in the underworld in darkness and they use the light from candles to travel to the living world.
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Copal is placed on or near Day of the Dead altars to draw in the spirits
The Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a holiday filled with beautiful symbols, traditions, and imagery. Each detail represents something significant and special in the remembrance of loved ones. One such tradition is the burning of copal incense, which is placed on or near Day of the Dead altars to draw in the spirits.
Copal is an aromatic tree resin that is central to incense-making in the Americas. The word "copal" comes from the Náhuatl word "copalli", which means "incense". It is the sap of the Bursera bipinnata tree. Copal was burned in ancient Mesoamerica and is still burned for special ceremonies. In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, copal was a ritualistic element in various ceremonies, and it was considered food for the gods. The ritual involved moulding copal into ceremonial corn cobs and offering them to deities. Copal was a staple crop of the gods, just as maize was the staple crop of humans.
Burning copal is forbidden at Church services in Mexico and Central America, but the practice has persisted in other settings. On the Day of the Dead, copal is placed on or near altars, which are built to honour deceased friends and family. The altars are constructed with three sections: the ground-level entrance, a mid-tier section with a table of offerings, and the highest level representing heaven, where photos of the dead are hung. Copal is placed at the entrance to help guide the spirits to the altar and their waiting families. The rising smoke takes the prayers to the heavens and the gods, and it is believed to purify the souls of the spirits.
Copal is not burned throughout Mexico, and it is not a traditional holiday observance in Mexico City. However, in recent years, the Day of the Dead has had a resurgence in popularity as a national cultural observance. Big clouds of copal smoke can be seen in the cemeteries and churches of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Michoacan.
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Incense is burned on an ofrenda to help draw the souls in with the smell of smoke
Incense is burned on the Day of the Dead to help guide the souls of the deceased back to the land of the living. The sweet-smelling smoke is believed to attract spirits and lead them to their altars, where their families wait for them.
The Day of the Dead altar is called an "ofrenda", which means "offering" in Spanish. These altars are made to remember and honour deceased friends and family. They are usually built on multiple levels, with the highest level representing heaven, where photos of the dead are hung alongside images of saints, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and Jesus. The altars are brightly coloured so that souls can find their way.
Incense is burned on the lowest level of the ofrenda. The type of incense burned is called copal, which comes from the copal tree. Copal is an aromatic tree resin that has been central to incense-making in the Americas for thousands of years. The word "copal" comes from the Náhuatl word "copalli", which means "incense".
In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, copal was a critical part of daily life for the Aztec and Mayan cultures. It was considered food for the gods and was offered to the four cardinal points and the sun to guarantee protection and good crops. The ritual of burning copal is still practised by the Lacandón, a Mayan people living in the modern-day state of Chiapas.
In addition to incense, other common elements of an ofrenda include candles, flowers, food, and drinks such as tequila.
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Frequently asked questions
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that has spread to other Latin American countries. It is celebrated throughout the month of October and on November 1 and 2.
Incense is burned on the Day of the Dead to help guide the souls of the dead back to the land of the living. It is also used to purify and cleanse the air.
The incense burned on the Day of the Dead is called Copal. It is made from the sap of the Bursera bipinnata tree, also known as the copal tree.
Copal incense symbolises the transformation from the physical to the supernatural. The smoke from the burning incense carries prayers to the heavens and the gods.
Copal incense is burned in cemeteries and churches in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Michoacan. It is also burned on altars or "ofrendas" (offerings) in people's homes.
