Marigold Smudge Sticks for Day of the Dead

It’s October! The season of welcoming guests into our homes is soon upon us, so before things get way to hectic let’s take some time to prepare.

Many of us have pre-holiday tidying rituals like getting the carpets cleaned or refreshing the linens but cleansing the spirit of your home and filling your space with positive, loving energy is another way to reset and start the holiday season off right.

Traditionally in Native American cultures, smudge sticks were used to correct the energy in the home. The smoke from the smoldering herbs will attach itself to the bad aura in the room and removes it as the smoke dissipates.

During Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead the smudge stick has a couple of other purposes. Lighting a smudge stick a day or two before the holiday will clear the air for loved ones so they may feel safe to return home from the land of the dead. During the actual Day of the Dead celebrations, smudge sticks can be used to perfume the air and guide our deceased loved ones back to us as well as speak to those who have passed through the sense of smell, giving us an herbal connection to those who have gone before us.

Mexican sage and sweet grass are most commonly used in traditional smudge sticks. The sage is used to clear the space of negativity and illness and the sweet grass fills it up again with tranquil positive energy. To my smudge sticks I have also added marigold flowers. Marigolds are the symbolic flower of Dia de los Muertos and are known to lead the dead back to us with their bright color and rich, intense aroma. Many people also believe their delicate petals represent the fragility of life.

Here’s What You Need To Make the Marigold Smudge Sticks

• Sweet grass braid
  • You can find this in many herbalist shops or online.
• Fresh Marigold flowers
• Kitchen twine
• Scissors

How to Make the  Marigold Smudge Sticks

Cut your sweet grass braid the length you’d like your stick then starting from the blossom, trim several marigolds the same length. Wrap the marigold stems around the sweet grass and twist the twine around to secure the blossoms to the sweet grass. The blossoms will shrink as they dry so make sure you wrap the twine around tightly.

Once you reach one end, repeat and go back down again until the bundle feels secure. Cut the twine, leaving a couple of inches at the bottom and tie it tightly to the bundle. Trim any excess string.

Let the sticks dry at least 2 weeks in a cool, dry place before burning. Smudge sticks will last up to a year.

More Day of the Dead Crafts To Try

How To Make Paper Flowers

Super Easy Sugar Skulls

One More Thing

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