Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Death, is a Mexican holiday that combines both the Catholic religious day of All Souls' Day and traditional indigenous Mexican practices. The holiday is a day in which Mexican families venerate the dead. Traditionally, family members will visit the tombs of their dead family members at night, bringing with them tokens such as food, alcohol, or toys (depending on the "age" of the decease family member). These are laid on the person's tomb because according to ancient Aztec tradition, on this day the souls of the dead are allowed to return to the world of the living, and thus their favorite foods and items from when they were alive are often laid beside their tombs for the nonliving to "enjoy.
Human skulls are an important symbol for the Day of the Death celebration, and are often recreated in plaster, clay, and often in candy form out of sugar or chocolate. Traditionally candy skulls are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead, and will be given as gifts (either to the living or the dead).
Additionally, an important figure in Mexican lore is La Calavera Catrina, the Elegant Skull, first conceived by printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada in a 1913 zinc etching. The Catrina, is the skeleton of an upper class woman, whose image has since its creation gone to become the central figure of the holiday.
Human skulls are an important symbol for the Day of the Death celebration, and are often recreated in plaster, clay, and often in candy form out of sugar or chocolate. Traditionally candy skulls are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead, and will be given as gifts (either to the living or the dead).
Additionally, an important figure in Mexican lore is La Calavera Catrina, the Elegant Skull, first conceived by printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada in a 1913 zinc etching. The Catrina, is the skeleton of an upper class woman, whose image has since its creation gone to become the central figure of the holiday.
Take All Chances - Missy Said,
Intersting but Catrina really scares me!!
Posted on 8:11 PM
El Grande Said,
Hahaha! Why? I think the image is really cool!
Posted on 10:26 PM
Take All Chances - Missy Said,
It's a person on stilts and the head isn't really their head. Their head is in the body or something...I think.Also the hand with fingers made of all those colourful stuff freaks me out. Why aren't they real skeleton fingers or is it just a colored fan for the heat? It may be cool but its scary. I hope that's a detailed enough answer :-) haha!!
Posted on 9:47 PM
El Grande Said,
First of all, that's not a real person. So, no need to worry there. It is actually a sculpture (one of many) that were around the town I was in Mexico during Dia de los Muertos.
Also, the "fingers" are not fingers, like you noted it is a colored fan. She's supposed to be a rich dead lady.
Posted on 10:32 PM
Take All Chances - Missy Said,
That makes it a little less scary to know she wouldn't start moving around. The fingers even though they're fans still look wierd. Wonder what makes her rich?
Posted on 4:57 PM
El Grande Said,
I think the fingers look weird because of the angle of the picture.
Her name is the Rich Lady, I think it's the colors in her dress. In the old days bright painted dresses were more expensive than plain colored ones. I am not sure though.
Posted on 12:04 AM