With names and even “corpses” of the plants, Erik Velázquez’s peculiar offering moved people on social networks. (TikTok / @erikvelazquez285)
The Day of the Dead is one of the most significant traditions in Mexico, where families pay tribute to their deceased loved ones by placing an ofrenda with symbolic elements such as candles, marigold flowers and photographs. However, this year, one man decided to do something different by dedicating his altar not to people, but to the plants he failed to keep alive.
TikTok user Erik Velázquez (@erikvelazquez285) shared a video of his offering, which is decorated in a traditional way, but with an unusual touch: instead of photographs of family members, the altar is dedicated to his deceased plants.
Velázquez presented the altar with the “names” of each plant that did not survive his care, including Gerbera, Pinito, Albert and Monstera. The video quickly went viral, racking up more than a million views and hundreds of comments praising the creativity and humor behind the offering.
The traditional celebration took an unexpected turn when he dedicated his altar to his deceased plants, causing a sensation on the internet. (TikTok / @erikvelazquez285)
“The bodies need to be present hahaha,” one user joked in the comments section, highlighting the irony of the situation. Another user humorously commented, “But corpses don’t go on the altar,” pointing out that the pots with the withered plants and the dry leaves of each plant occupy a special place in Velázquez’s offering. Velázquez’s idea was not only received with laughter, but also with sympathy, since many people identified with the challenge of keeping their plants alive.
Velázquez’s video is set to music from the film Coco, which is about the Day of the Dead and connecting with deceased loved ones. The combination of the themed altar with Coco’s music was especially fun for viewers, who were quick to make funny comments about the video. “My belly hurts from laughing so much,” commented one user, while another added: “Between the video and the comments… you made my day!”
The traditional celebration takes an unexpected turn when a user on TikTok dedicates his altar to his deceased plants, causing a sensation on the internet. Credit: TikTok / erikvelazquez285
Velázquez’s offering shows the affection and attachment that many people develop towards their plants. On social networks, some users mentioned that plants can also be loved ones, and although it sounds humorous, this “offering of plants” reflects the affection that the subject felt towards them, so much so that he decided to give them a last tribute on his altar.
