Tips To Make A Good Offering:

- Do not offer what is left, offer what is best – even when you take a part of your regular shopping, as we have done today, make your offering before you consume any of the food you have purchased. If you bake, offer the first slice of cake, not the last one.

- Take your time – carving, slicing and ornating the plate is an offering too, an offering of your time and dedication.

- Don’t leave your offering at the altar forever. Letting food rot on the altar is very disrespectful. Keep an eye on it and retire it as soon as you see any sign of spoiling; we leave cooked foods only one day, and fruit for two days at most.

- Be creative! Food is only one choice. Make paper flowers, decorate your candles, prepare spiced tea or chocolate, mulled wine, etc. - Be responsible – if any of your offerings can be eaten by wild life around you, don’t throw it away! Fruit, cookies and bread can be given to birds and other animals, or simply added to the compost bin; if that is not possible, put it in a paper bag and give it to Exu Okkada, the avatar of Eleggua that lives in the garbage – he will love it, and will give back to you unexpected dumpster finds.