Sugar skulls are a must have for celebrating Day of the Dead on November 1-2. Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Latin America as a day of remembrance for the dearly departed. Based on the Catholic tradition of All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos has become an over-the-top family gathering that draws spectators to small villages throughout Michoacan, Puebla and Oaxaca.
Sugar Skulls for Day of the Dead
Many suppose the colorful traditions associated with of Day of the Dead developed from the mixture of tribal worship with Christianity. With the arrival of Christianity in the Americas, missionaries found it difficult to convert the tribes’ traditional notion of ancestor worship and death honoring the gods, to life honoring God. Dia de los Muertos evolved as a melding of the Christian belief in eternal life, and the tribal need to honor the dead.
The early Mexica tribes would build a tzompantli, an altar-like display of racks of human skulls to honor their gods. Altars are still a main component in Day of the Dead decoration, usually adorned with flowers, pictures of the deceased, and their favorite foods to tempt the soul to return. Sugar skulls are often purchased by the family, sometimes as a gift or sometimes in honor of the departed soul, and are many times used to decorate the altars (more convenient and less messy than human skulls, I’m sure!)
A Fun Fall Project
Making sugar skulls is a great crafty project, easy and inexpensive. Skull molds are available at craft stores, or online. For a first time project, look for a single sided skull mold that does not require assembly of two skull halves to make a whole skull. Also, avoid making your sugar skulls on rainy or humid days, as most candies and sugar work do not set properly in high humidity.
Here is a list of supplies:
Leave a Reply