DAY OF THE DEAD

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Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos is a holiday rooted in the ancient past of Mesoamerica. My ancestors were in awe of the eternal cycle of life and death and believed in the need for sacrifice to assure the continuation of life. The Aztecs of past honored those who have passed on with great feasts, sacrifice, ritual, dance, and sacred art that depicted their beliefs and customs. After the trauma of the Spanish conquest, their beliefs persisted by adapting them to the holidays of the Christian calendar. Although much of the ancient indigenous religions were lost, the core aspect of the days of the dead was kept. This core consists of the altar with offerings to the dead.

In a concerted attempt to reclaim their indigenous roots, the people of Mexico and Central America took this heretofore completely sacred and private expression of devotion and memorial to new heights. Dia de los Muertos ofrendas and exhibitions can now be found in Mexico, Texas, and the Southwestern United States.

Photo is of Koz Mraz of Studio Voodoo who is wearing one of my designs, Baron Samedi, the Voodoo spirit of death, at the big Day of the Dead festival in California. The t-shirt is available at the Ju Ju Shoppe. In fact, there is a whole section on Day of the Dead at the Ju Ju Shoppe, so go check it out! And don't forget to check out Koz's music...I highly recommend it!

For more information, visit the Day of the Dead Dolls page at The Mystic Voodoo.

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Check out my Day of the Dead artwork featured in the new book
Day of the Dead Crafts:

More Than 24 Projects that Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Celebrated on November 1 and 2, Day of the Dead honors the memory of departed souls, welcoming them back to celebrate the best of life. Families decorate grave sites with marigolds and set up stunning altars. Streets flutter with paper banners. Store windows glisten with sugar skulls. Skeleton figures grin rakishly from every corner. Day of the Dead Crafts is filled with dozens of terrific projects that allow you to participate in the excitement of the holiday while expressing your own creativity. You'll enjoy showcasing these unique, fun, and meaningful projects throughout the year.

Inside you'll find step-by-step instructions, ideas, and inspiration for a wide range of projects, including:

* Calaveras, those comical and clever skeleton figures caught in the act of enjoying life's favorite activities
* Masks and skulls made from paper maché, gourds, and even sugar
* A meaningful and artistic ofrenda, or altar, to honor those who have passed
* Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more to wear day or night
* Pieces guaranteed to liven up any décor

Colorful, whimsical, and often dramatic, Day of the Dead art is steeped in rich history and symbolism. The projects in Day of the Dead Crafts honor the traditional, while taking advantage of today's materials for a fresh and exciting twist.

DAY OF THE DEAD on eBay
Eerie Clay Statues in Mexican Town
DAY OF THE DEAD VOODOO DOLL

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Catrina Fashionista

Catrina

DAY OF THE DEAD on eBay

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Eerie Clay Statues in Mexican Town

When Alejandro Santiago returned to his home town in Mexico, he was saddened to find how empty the town was. So he decided to repopulate the town with clay statues. Check out this crazy but very cool artist's story here:

Mexican Town Eerily Populated by Clay Statues

DAY OF THE DEAD VOODOO DOLL

El Corazon del Muerto

As a Voodoo artist from New Orleans, I come by this traditional art form honestly through my earliest traceable ancestors, King Xicotencotl of Tlaxcala and Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador.

Here is an example of El Corazon del Muerto.This Day of the Dead art doll was made combining the traditional styles of the New Orleans Voodoo doll craft and the contemporary Mesoamerican decorative design.

Voodoo News

Strange and Bizarre News from Near and Far

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DAY OF THE DEAD MEETS THE SPIRIT OF DEATH

Many of the symbols found on the altars of today are the result of the melding of Spanish and indigenous art and religion. The indigenous cross of the four cardinal points became the Christian cross, and the Tree of Life became the Garden of Eden. The Spanish brought elements of the Feast of Fools associated with carnival (farewell to flesh) where everything is open to ridicule, mockery, and lightheartedness. Everything is equal in death; no one escapes its inevitability. This is where the humor and whimsy associated with today's los Días de los Muertos in all likelihood stems from.

During the latter part of the colonial period, the people began making brightly colored sugar -candy skulls and exchanging them between family and friends as tokens of affection. These became common items alongside the image of Guadalupe, flowers, water, bread, and copal. Skeleton dolls made of clay and paper maché were made depicting people in everyday activities. These dolls soon became a part of tradition. I come by this tradition honestly through the lineage of my father, King Xicotencotl of Tlaxcala and Pedro de Alvarado, the Spanish conquistador.

Day of the Dead Altar Art

Decorative Skull Art

The ancient Aztecs believed that when a person is born they get a nagual, an animal spirit companion who would be at their side throughout life as a soul partner. Animals were honored and revered because they acknowledged the sacred interdependence between humankind and the animal world. Even today, the indigenous people are well aware of the fact that without our animal relatives we would cease to exist. Animal skeletons and skulls are a common element on the Day of the Dead altars and represent the sacred passing of a family pet or Animal Spirits. Our animal relatives are appeased with offerings as are our ancestors.

Day of the Dead Art

Day of the Dead Skulls

Day of the Dead Slide Show

Watch my new Day of the Dead slide show!

Catrin and Catrina

This Day of the Dead Voodoo doll couple is made in honor of Catrin and Catrina, made popular by renowned author, journalist and political cartoonist Guadalupe Posada, (1852-1913). He is credited for popularizing the Day of the Dead celebrations, especially through the creation of skeletal cartoons that capture the Mexican attitude towards death. The names Catrin and Catrina mean "dapper," and they reflect the fashions of the times. I have recreated the smart-looking couple as Voodoo dolls that exude comedic elegance.
Measure approximately 10 - 12 inches.

Day of the Dead Art