Calavera facts for kids

A sugar skull, a common gift for children and decoration for the Day of the Dead.

A calavera (pronounced kah-lah-VEH-rah) is a Spanish word for "skull." But in Mexico, it's much more than just a bone! Calaveras are often colorful, artistic skulls made from sugar or clay. They are a special part of the Mexican celebration called the Day of the Dead (or Día de Muertos). This holiday also connects with the Catholic holiday of All Souls' Day.

Calaveras can be edible treats, beautiful decorations, or even artistic drawings. The most famous ones are made from cane sugar. These "sugar skulls" are decorated with bright foil, icing, beads, and feathers. They come in many different colors and sizes.

People have been making traditional calaveras since the 1630s. They are often made for children or as special offerings placed on altars called ofrendas. These altars honor family members who have passed away. The Day of the Dead celebration has old roots in the cultures of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltec people.

Families use both small and large handmade sugar skulls to decorate their ofrendas. Small sugar skulls represent children who have died, and they are celebrated on November 1st. Larger sugar skulls represent adults, celebrated on November 2nd. People believe that their loved ones return home to enjoy the offerings on the altar during this time.

Long ago, before Europeans arrived in Mexico, skulls and skeletons were often shown in art. They represented new life and moving to the next stage of existence. In the 1900s, an artist named José Guadalupe Posada became famous for his calavera drawings. He drew skeletons dressed in fancy clothes, often making fun of wealthy people. His most famous calavera is Catrina, a skeleton wearing a big feathery hat and elegant clothes. Catrina is now a symbol of the Day of the Dead. These artistic skeletons can be made from wood, sugar paste, nuts, or chocolate. When used as offerings, the name of the person being remembered is often written on the skull's forehead.

Making Calaveras

Sugar skulls before decoration.

Traditional sugar skulls have been made using molds for hundreds of years. Making them can take a long time. A skilled artist might spend four to six months preparing the skulls for the Day of the Dead season. These traditionally made sugar skulls are considered a type of folk art. They are usually meant for decoration, not for eating.

The main goal when making these skulls is to make them look beautiful, not necessarily to make them taste good or be safe to eat. Many decorative calaveras have things like beads, feathers, and foil on them, which are not edible. In the past, some skulls were decorated with tiny sombreros, but these designs are not common anymore.

You can usually find calaveras for sale at outdoor markets about two weeks before the Day of the Dead.

Sugar skulls offered for sale in Mexico.

A large sugar skull offered for sale in Mexico.

"Calaveritas" (little skulls) made of chocolate and sugar for sale in Mexico.

Some calaveras are made to be eaten. Most are made from cane sugar, which can be plain or flavored with vanilla. You can also find calaveras made from chocolate. These edible skulls are often colored with bright vegetable dyes. Just like the decorative ones, they might have names written on their foreheads. People can eat these calaveras or keep them for a few days before throwing them away.

Clay Skulls

Besides sugar, calaveras are also made as clay toys. These clay skulls often have a shiny silver color, but you can also find them in white, black, or red. They sometimes have colorful beaded eyes for extra decoration.

Literary Calaveras

During the Day of the Dead, people also write special poems called literary calaveras. These poems are a fun way to playfully tease living people while reminding everyone that life doesn't last forever. Literary calaveras first appeared in the late 1800s. They were often published in newspapers with drawings that made fun of important politicians. These drawings showed famous people as skeletons, but with details that made them easy to recognize. Poems about people who had died often included funny details about their lives.

Face Painting Fun

Painting your face to look like a skull with fancy designs is a very popular part of Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. This is sometimes called "sugar skull" make-up or Catrina make-up. However, using this type of face painting as a Halloween costume has sometimes been seen as cultural appropriation. This means taking something from another culture without fully understanding or respecting its original meaning and importance.

See also

In Spanish: Calavera de alfeñique para niños