Why the cempasuchil flower is essential to Día de los Muertos

The big picture: The Nahua people, the Indigenous Mesoamericans that include the Aztecs, believed the flower had the power to illuminate the path between the living and the dead.

• That symbolism endures today in vibrant "ofrendas" adorned with the flowers. No altar is complete without them.
• The flowers are made into garlands, placed in bouquets, arranged in arches or strewn as a petaled path on altars and graves.

The intrigue: The name cempasuchil derives from the Nahuatl word "cempohualxochitl," meaning "20 flowers," a reference to its many petals.

• Native to Mexico and Central America, it's also known as the "Flower of the Dead" since its strong musty scent is believed to attract spirits back to the realm of the living.

The bottom line: The cempasuchil links the past and present — showing how Indigenous traditions still shape how we honor the dead.