Cacao as a drink of memory
In ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao seeds were offered to the gods and shared in ceremonies that united the world of the living with that of the ancestors.
On the Day of the Dead —or any time we wish to honor those who walked before us— a cup of ceremonial cacao can become a bridge of gratitude and presence.
Cacao as food of memory
Cacao was considered sacred food by Mayan and Mexican civilizations.
They used it in offerings, funerary rituals, and rites of passage. Its deep bitterness and natural sweetness symbolized the balance between life and death, the visible and the invisible.
Today, drinking ceremonial cacao is a way to remember that connection: each sip returns us to the earth, the roots, and the history that sustains us.
Elements for an altar of gratitude
A cacao ritual can be accompanied by a simple altar, with symbols that represent memory and the elements:
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Photographs: evoke the presence of ancestors.
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Marigold flowers: their color and scent guide the souls.
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Candles: their light illuminates the return and symbolizes fire.
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Paper cut-outs or feathers: represent air and the fragility of life.
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Water: symbol of healing and spiritual purification.
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Ceremonial cacao: food of the earth and drink of the heart.
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Incense or copal: purifies the space and opens the ritual.
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Personal objects: items that were meaningful to those remembered.
Preparing a ritual to honor the ancestors
A cacao ritual does not need to be complex. All that is needed is a clear intention and a few meaningful elements:
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A quiet space: a table with a candle, a photo, or a beloved object.
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A cup of ceremonial cacao: prepare the drink slowly, feeling its aroma and warmth.
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Words or silence: share memories, express gratitude aloud, or simply sit in silence, letting the cacao speak.
Cacao opens the heart, softens the mind, and creates a moment where the presence of the ancestors feels near.
A chant and a prayer to accompany the cacao
In Mesoamerican cultures, words and songs were sacred bridges. You may open your ritual with this chant of Náhuatl origin:
Tlen mochipa totlahtol
(May our word endure forever)
In xochitl, in cuicatl
(The flower, the song)
Tlen moztla totlacayotl
(May our life continue tomorrow)
Totatzine, Totantzin, tlen toyoletl
(Father and Mother of our heart, receive our breath)
Free translation:
May our word remain,
may the flower and song continue,
may our life renew with each dawn.
Father and Mother of the heart, receive our breath.
And you may close with this poetic prayer:
“Mothers and fathers who walked before us,
guardians of the seed and the fire,
receive this cacao,
food of the heart,
bridge between earth and sky.
May your wisdom guide us,
may your strength sustain our lives.
May this cacao open the paths,
may memory come alive,
may the love of our ancestors
blossom in every sip.”
From tradition to your own creation
Each person can shape this ritual according to their culture and sensitivity. Some light incense, others add soft music or chants. What matters is the intention: to honor the life that came before and give thanks for the path that brought us here.
The Day of the Dead reminds us that memory is a living act.
To prepare ceremonial cacao and share it with those who are no longer with us is to say:
“Your story lives on in my heart, and each sip is a bridge between our worlds.”
At Sumay Cacao, we believe that this simple gesture can transform a moment of remembrance into one of love and presence.
