
She is always depicted with the makeup of the sugar skulls used in the Day of the Dead festivities. La Catrina is commonly represented in tattoos as a beautiful woman. You can decorate the rest of your skull with flowers and butterflies or any other image you prefer. An ace of spades is often painted on the tip as a symbol for good luck. The nose is usually filled with a dark color. Another option is to add teeth to the calavera. They tend to have their mouths painted with vertical lines to give the image of being stitched closed. The calaveras can have a wide variety of different designs, but they are usually smiling. Many people choose this design for their tattoo, as it’s a fun way to celebrate life and your loved ones. They’re molded into the shape of a human skull from sugar and merengue and painted with bright colors. Sugar SkullĬalavera, or skull, is an important part of the festivities. We’ll walk you through all of these options so you’ll know which one’s right for you. Most Day of the Dead tattoos use either the figure of La Catrina, a sugar skull or skeletons. Given the relation of the festivity to Mexican culture, you’ll be carrying the story of your ancestors on your skin. It can also be a way to honor your heritage. In fact, Day of the Dead is celebrated with sugar skulls painted in bright colors and images of laughing skeletons.Ī Day of the Dead tattoo is a very personal way to honor your loved ones. It still carries the same meaning of celebrating loved ones who have passed, without sadness for their death.

Ever since the Spanish arrived, the festivity has been celebrated on All Saints’ Day, at the beginning of November. Originating in the pre-Hispanic Aztec culture of Central America, Day of the Dead is still popular in Mexico and other parts of Central America, and increasingly in the US.
