According to the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INP), an offering similar to the current Day of the Dead was that of the goddess Cihuapipiltin, dedicated to women who died of first childbirth, it was believed that they hovered in the air causing diseases among children, so they gave them gifts in the temple or at the crossroads of the road. The offerings consisted of “breads” of various figures such as butterflies or lightning bolts (xonicuille) made from amaranth and “unleavened bread” which was dry and toasted corn bread.
“The equivalent of the pan de muerto as we now know it would be the ‘huitlatamalli,’ which was a kind of tamale. In pre-Hispanic times, the ‘papalotlaxcalli’ or butterfly bread was made, which was exclusive to this ceremony. Apparently it was like an omelette on which a butterfly-shaped stamp was printed on the still raw dough, once cooked, it was painted colorfully, ”he details in INP.
The bread of the dead also changes from region to region. In Mixquic, in CDMX, “despeinadas” are made, which are pink bread rolls with sugar, there are also butterfly-shaped breads, since it was believed that, when they died, girls turned into butterflies.
In the State of Mexico there are “deaths”, an amorphous bread made from egg yolk. There are also tlaxcales, which are made of corn and have a triangle shape.
In Guerrero, in the offerings they place breads called shrimps, cakes and bitters, there are also dolls and figure bread, adorned with magenta colored sugar.
In Oaxaca there are the “Regañadas”, puff pastry breads that are used in the offerings and that represent the “animas” of people or animals. And so there are more examples.