DAY OF THE DEAD

There has been a bold resurgence to the ancient tradition of Mexican Skull Art. The use of Skulls and skeletons in art however, originated before the Conquest: The Aztecs excelled in stone sculptures and created striking carvings of the Gods. Coatlicue, the goddess of earth and death, was portrayed with a necklace of human hearts, hands and a skull pendant. She was imbued with the drama and grandeur necessary to dazzle the subject people and to convey the image of an implacable state. The worship of death involved worship of life, while the skull - symbol of death - was a promise to resurrection. The Aztecs carved skulls in monoliths of lava, and made masks of obsidian and jade. Furthermore, the skull motif was used in decoration. They were molded on pots, traced on scrolls, woven into garments, and formalized into hieroglyphs.

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.

The Day of the Dead characters Catrin and Catrina were 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 name Catrina means "dapper," and she reflects the fashions of the times.

Catrin and Catrina Day of the Dead Dolls available from The Mystic Voodoo.

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter, who has achieved great international popularity. She painted using vibrant colors in a style that was influenced by indigenous cultures of Mexico as well as European influences that include Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Many of her works are self-portraits that symbolically express her own pain. Kahlo was married to and influenced by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and shared his Communist views. Although she has long been recognized as an important painter, public awareness of her work has become more widespread since the 1970's.

Frida Kahlo Day of the Dead Doll available from Frida Kahlo.

Diego Rivera was a communist and world-famous Mexican painter, and husband of Frida Kahlo. Diego Rivera was a notorious ladies' man who had fathered at least two illegitimate children by two different women. In fact, he was still married when he met art student Frida Kahlo, whom he eventually married. Their mutual infidelities and his violent temper led to divorce in 1939, but they later re-married.