Día de los Muertos is a long-held tradition of celebrating and honoring deceased relatives on November 1 and 2 in Mexico and in other various areas in the United States. There are all sorts of extensive work and thought that goes into this celebration. Traditionally, grave sites would be adorned with candles and marigolds. Family would sit next to the grave site and have meals together throughout the day. Also there would be the decoration of the sugar skull. They are graphic designed solid skulls made of sugar. A sugar skull would have a loved-one’s name written on the forehead and then elaborately decorated with icing, tin, sparkles, and sequins. They are often eaten but the main purpose is to decorate altars and grave sites. Sugar skulls come in all different shapes and sizes. The time-honored tradition is slowly diminishing, but the craft is something to be appreciated. There is truly no particular way of decorating a sugar skull, each is praised for their uniqueness. Salient characteristics would include flower petals painted around the eyes, swirling shapes, and vines. Floral and natural motifs are most common. The brightly colored sugar skulls create a wonderful contrast to the pure white base. The goal is to make each skull unique and captivating. It is to reflect the spirit of a loved one and their salient characteristics. A sugar skull’s decorative pattern is commonly, but not limited to, bilateral symmetry. It is a struggle year after year to keep these intricate, beautiful sugar skull decorating a part of the yearly festivities but we can appreciate them while they are still around.
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