For Día de los Muertos, an ofrenda is traditionally created to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. But a Celebration Tree can be another meaningful way to bring those memories into your home. Instead of—or even in addition to—creating an altar, you can decorate a tree with photographs of family members who are no longer with you and surround those pictures with colorful decorations that have special meaning.
For this tree, I used family photographs along with marigolds, butterflies, papel picado, and brightly colored ribbon. The photographs are really the heart of the tree. Looking through old family pictures and choosing which ones to display is part of what makes decorating it so personal.
Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are one of the flowers most closely associated with Día de los Muertos. Their brilliant orange and yellow color and strong fragrance are traditionally believed to help guide the spirits of loved ones back to visit their families. I wrapped marigold garland around the tree so that the flowers weave their way among the family photographs.
The butterflies have a beautiful connection to the holiday as well. Monarch butterflies arrive in central Mexico around the time Día de los Muertos is celebrated. In some Mexican traditions, particularly in Michoacán, they have become associated with the souls of ancestors returning to visit their families. Adding butterflies to the tree seemed like an especially fitting way to represent that connection.
The papel picado and colorful ribbon bring in the joyful colors associated with the celebration. Día de los Muertos is about remembering those we have lost, but it is also about keeping their stories, personalities, and memories alive.
This tree doesn’t have to be perfectly coordinated or filled with expensive decorations. Use family photographs, ribbons and decorations you already own, and add a few meaningful touches. The important part isn’t creating a perfect tree—it’s creating a place filled with the faces and memories of the people you want to remember.
Of all the decorations on this tree, the photographs are what make it special. Each one has a story, and together they turn the tree into a colorful celebration of family, memory, and love.
Shopping List
| Item | Suggested Quantity | How to Use It | Shopping Tip | Shopping Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Photographs | 10–15 photos | Choose photographs of family members and loved ones you would like to honor. Use a mixture of older and newer pictures to make the tree feel personal and tell your family’s story. | No purchase needed if you already have family photographs. Copies can be printed inexpensively so the originals stay protected. | Use photographs you already have or print copies locally. |
| Clear Plastic Photo Ornaments | 8–12 | Place smaller family photographs inside clear photo-ball ornaments and hang them throughout the tree. | Look for clear plastic rather than glass. The linked Neil Enterprises ornament is a similar round style and holds two photos. | Shop Similar Photo Ornaments on Amazon |
| Small Picture Frames | 3–5 | Use a few larger framed photographs between the smaller photo ornaments. One special family photograph can also be placed near the top of the tree. | Dollar stores, thrift stores, garage sales, and frames you already own are good options. | Reuse small frames you already have whenever possible. |
| Orange Marigold Garland | 4–6 strands, approximately 5 feet each | Wrap the garland loosely around the tree, allowing the orange flowers to weave between the photographs and ribbon. | Artificial marigold garlands can be reused each year. Search for cempasúchil or artificial marigold garland. | Shop Marigold Garlands on Amazon |
| Monarch Butterfly Decorations | 4–6 butterflies | Clip or attach the butterflies to branches throughout the tree. A larger butterfly works especially well near the upper portion of the tree. | Mine came from H-E-B. For readers who do not have H-E-B nearby, these online options create a similar monarch-butterfly look. |
Shop Similar Butterflies at Michaels Shop a Similar Monarch Set at Target |
| Colorful Papel Picado | 1 small banner or 6–10 individual pieces | Separate a small papel picado banner into individual sections and tuck or attach the colorful pieces among the branches. | Mine came from H-E-B. A miniature version is closest in scale for a tree; a larger banner can also be separated into individual flags. |
Shop Día de los Muertos Papel Picado on Amazon Shop Mini Papel Picado on Etsy |
| Wide Multicolored Mexican-Style Floral Ribbon | 2 rolls or approximately 15–20 yards | Create large loops and bows around the tree. The bright floral pattern helps tie together the colors of the papel picado and other decorations. | Search for Mexican floral, embroidered floral, folkloric, serape, or fiesta-style ribbon. Ribbon you already own in similar bright colors will also work. | Use a similar colorful wired ribbon you already own, or shop by color and pattern. |
| Bright Solid-Color Ribbon | 2–3 rolls | Add yellow, hot pink, orange, gold, or other bright solid-color ribbon to the larger patterned bows. | You do not need every color. Use leftover ribbon from other Celebration Trees whenever possible. | Reuse ribbon from other trees when possible. |
| Small Mexican Folk-Art or Día de los Muertos Ornaments | 3–6 | Tuck a few small decorative pieces among the photographs for additional color and personality. | Optional. Use ornaments, souvenirs, or small decorations you already own rather than purchasing an entire new set. | Use small ornaments or souvenirs you already have. |
| Floral Wire, Ornament Hooks, or Green Twist Ties | 1 package | Use these to secure photographs, papel picado, butterflies, ribbon, and lightweight decorations to the branches. | Green floral wire blends into the tree and works particularly well for attaching larger decorations. | Any basic craft-store floral wire or ornament hooks will work. |
| Mexican-Style Rebozo or Shawl for the Tree Skirt | 1 shawl | Drape a colorful Mexican-style shawl around the base of the tree instead of using a traditional tree skirt. | The shawl in the photograph is richly colored and floral. The Amazon link is for a similar Mexican rebozo-style shawl, not the exact shawl shown. | Shop a Similar Mexican Rebozo on Amazon |