Two lines of marigolds, an empty bottle of Corona, holy water, candles and salt decorated the altar Sophia Villarreal built for her grandfather to celebrate the Day of the Dead Friday.

“I think it is important to remember my grandfather because I miss him. He comes back to his altar,” said the Ames 10-year-old.

Villarreal said she used to go to school in Mexico and remembers what the Day of the Dead celebrations were like.

“One of my favorite parts is decorating the altar and then later we get to eat the candy off it,” she said.

Villarreal was one of 20 exhibitioners to display an altar in the Oak Room of the Memorial Union.

The altars included everything from a miniature Green Bay Packers helmet and a men’s razor to crosses and peanut M&M’s. Each altar included a picture of the deceased loved one.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1 and 2. The celebration includes spending time at the cemetery with deceased loved ones, arranging flowers, lighting candles and constructing altars dedicated to the spirit of the deceased.

Adela Licona, graduate student in English, teaches the Multicultural Learning Community’s section of English 105. Her students constructed altars to display.

“I wanted my students to take pieces of their heritage and create altars with cross-cultural expressions,” Licona said.

She said incense and candles light the way for the spirits. The person’s favorite vices, such as alcohol or cigarettes, are often displayed on the altar. Salt is often included because of it’s significant taste, Licona said.

Jerry Garcia, assistant professor of history, said Iowa State promotes diversity. The Day of the Dead exhibition promotes awareness of minority groups on campus, he said.

“The university has a responsibility to celebrate cultures throughout the United States and the world,” he said. “This is one example made up of a different culture’s celebrations. It is a way of getting to know each other.”

Garcia said his History 240 class constructed an altar dedicated to Latino cultural icons.

“Frida Kahlo is in the center of the altar. She had a big impact on women’s studies and Latino art,” he said. “We [included] items that were significant to those individuals.”

Objects that represent the deceased one’s passion in life are important to include, Garcia said.

For Kahlo, a paintbrush and paints were included to signify her passion for art, he said.

Garcia said a number of Latino students and faculty walked through the exhibition.

Garcia said it was hard to determine how many people viewed the display throughout the day but if 200 people attended he would consider it a success.

Jessica Bernal, freshman in speech communication, said she came to see how the altars would be decorated.

Bernal said used to celebrate the Day of the Dead with her family while growing up in Chicago.

“[The students] put a lot of effort into the altars and displaying what the different people liked,” she said.