DIA de los MUERTOS (DAY OF THE DEAD)

I am working on a Mexican-themed tablescape, and a sugar skull will be part of the decor.   Sugar skulls (calavera) are traditionally used during the Day of the Dead celebration which has its roots in pre-Columbian mesoamerican cultures.   The use of skulls during this celebration date back to the Aztec empire.  The Aztecs used real skulls for their celebration, but the Spaniard explorers introduced "Sugar" skulls which were made from a paste of sugar, lemon, and hot water. In more recent times, the skulls are made from a multitude of materials such as plaster of Paris, polyresin, or even paper mache. The sugar skulls symbolize the sweetness of death.   Note that sugar skulls are smiling, as they also represent the smiling face of death.   Unlike Halloween which evokes fear and is rooted in Celtic traditions, Day of the Dead is a joyful celebration of the relationship between the living and the deceased and has evolved from the traditions of ancient native Mexican and Central Americans.

The Day of the Dead is November 2nd but is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. November 1st celebrates children, and November 2nd celebrates adults. Families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink, and celebration.  The Nahua (the Aztecs were Nahua) rituals honoring the dead family members provided food, water, and tools on altars (ofrendas) or gravesites honoring the deceased and aiding them in the difficult journey from Chicunamictlan (Land of the Dead) to their final resting place of Mictlan.  The deceased traveler must pass through nine challenging levels before reaching Mictlan which takes four years to achieve.

Traditional foods for the celebration are pan de Muerta, or bread of the dead, which is a yeast-based sweet egg bread.  Other food and treats may include calbaza en tacha (candied pumpkin), Calaveras (sugar skulls), tamales, atole (a sweet drink), and spicy Mexican hot chocolate.

Orange and yellow marigolds (flor de Muerto) are used during the celebration. The Aztecs believed the colors and scent of the flowers would lure the dead from their resting places.   Also, the rose crown, a headband of red roses is worn by women or placed on the sugar skulls during the celebration.  In many of Frida Kahlo's self-portraits, she is wearing a floral crown.

I'm a native Californian and remember seeing the highly decorated, smiling skulls in the Mexican markets, but it wasn't until my interest in incorporating Mexican decor on my table that I understood the celebration of Dia de los Muertos.