What's a sugar skull?
This distinctive Mexican sugar skulls or calavera, is a depiction of the human skull. Traditionally, they were crafted with sweet sugar. However, These figures are made with all kinds of delicious ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, and other delicacies to sweeten the memory of your loved ones, which otherwise could revive nostalgia and make their memory a bitter moment.
On the Day of the Dead, skulls have a great role to play. This celebration follows All Saints' Day and allows people to commemorate their beloved ones who have passed away. Families come to the tombs with offerings such as food and decorations for their dearly passed away relatives, while spending time together enjoying food, drinks, remembering stories – and simply enjoying life.
On the Day of the Dead, it is believed that we become aware of how blurry the line is between our world and that of those who have passed away. According to folklore, during this time it's possible to catch glimpses of our loved ones on earth again – and these skulls act as a representation of that phenomenon.
Sugar skulls are important in Mexican culture… And beyond!
Source: Day Of The Dead Sugar Skulls by Fangusu
Skulls have been deeply rooted in Mexican culture since ancient times and serve as a reminder of life. Accepting death can help us understand the complexity of our existence, especially when viewed from a different cultural perspective. In Mexico, images of skulls are considered an everyday part of life, which encourages reflection on what is truly meaningful in life.
That’s why it is customary to paint one's face with a skull design as a tribute to this festive time of year… And it has become synonymous with Mexico's identity today!
Most of us think of skulls as something creepy and scary. However, sugar skulls in Mexico prove that death doesn't have to be scary. Like the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, sugar skulls commemorate life rather than mourn it, which is undeniably charming.
Having sugar skulls full of vibrant colors and brightness, makes remembering ancestors a much more pleasant and sweet experience, which is quite understandable given that in most countries death is seen as something horrible. But in Mexico, the remembrance of ancestors is associated with colors – and they try to make the moments of loss of a loved one less painful.
What is the history of sugar skulls?
Source: Sugar skulls by Tomascastelazo
Sugar skulls have been around ever since the Aztec empire. It's astonishing to observe how different cultures approach death, and this is demonstrated quite clearly during the Day of the Dead holiday.
Real human skulls were once used in Mexican funeral decorations, often detailed with semiprecious stones as eyes and noses.
Before Columbus arrived in America, indigenous cultures paid homage to the dead during festivals with skull-shaped figurines made of clay. By the 1500s, they began creating these figures using molds instead of sculpting them by hand. Later, when colonization took place, churches continued to observe this practice but used sugar as their material of choice.
Today, skulls are often associated with candies that are handed out as souvenirs and gifts in Mexico. However, people continue to create altars for their deceased relatives like the Aztecs did centuries ago – except instead of real skeletons, they use sugar skulls.
In addition, when Spanish explorers arrived in the Aztec empire, Hispanic and Aztec traditions were mixed, one of those new traditions was alfeñique. This involved crafting sugar-paste skulls which had been brought over to Spain before making their way into this New World culture.
This helped take sugar skulls to a new level and gave them popularity and recognition throughout Mexico.
The artistry and cultural significance of the sugar skulls crafted for this ancient Mexican celebration is truly remarkable. The essence of each skull is unique, with its own history and culture – a testament to how these magnificent traditions can remain intact throughout centuries.
Sugar skulls in pop culture
Source: Sugar skulls by Fangusu
Currently, the Day of the Dead and sugar skulls have grown from a local event to become an emblematic representation of Mexican culture. Its iconic skull imagery and witty dark humor have particularly resonated with comedians, artists, and other creatives alike; making it one of the most recognizable symbols in today's society.
From markets to shops to artisans, you'll find sugar skulls everywhere during Mexico's Day of the Dead. Not only will you come across traditional ones, but also all kinds of delicious treats that are sure to pique your curiosity!
At Lalo, we don't have skulls but we do have an app to save your family memories
Just as in Mexico, they use sugar skulls to remember their loved ones, at Lalo, we offer you an app with extensive capabilities so you can store your family's most precious memories with the utmost privacy and the ability to share them with the people you want.
At Lalo, you have the possibility to save audio and visual records with all the cherished memories of the people you have loved the most, and save them for the future.
Download the app and save your most valuable memories with Lalo today!
