Sugar skulls what do they mean

Soon enough, I started noticing some of these vendors start putting out sugar and chocolate skulls of all sizes on their displays: from skulls so small that I could carry at least five of them in my hand, to skulls so big that they were encased in plastic transparent boxes to facilitate carrying them.

Seeing these sugar skulls displayed throughout all the vendor stands in the city made me pause for a moment. Throughout school, I had been taught of the meanings of the various offerings in a Day of the Dead altar. As I mentioned before, I had never stopped to think about why they were such an indispensable element of an ofrenda. It seems a bit morbid to display skulls in an altar, even if those skulls are small, made of sugar, and edible, as well as quite tasty!

Why would the offerings in an altar include these sugar skulls? The reason goes all the way back to prehistoric times, when the skull was a predominant figure in Mesoamerican societies and cultures in various aspects and depictions. In most Indian villages, beautiful altars ofrendas are made in each home. The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits.

Toys and candies are left for the angelitos , and on Nov. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches. Day of the Dead is a very expensive holiday for these self-sufficient, rural based, indigenous families.

They believe that happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families. Ofrenda building keeps the family close. On the afternoon of Nov. People clean tombs, play cards, listen to the village band and reminisce about their loved ones. Tradition keeps the village close. Day of the Dead is becoming very popular in the U. In Mexico, the colorful, much anticipated, Day of the Dead celebrations are generally celebrated in the states from Mexico City south.

Here are directions from www. Day of the Dead shopping guide: Food, crafts, face-painting supplies in Phoenix. Want to draw a sugar skull instead? Support local journalism like this story by subscribing today. Facebook Twitter Email. Sugar skulls are the iconic symbol of the Day of the Dead. Here's why and how to make them. Shanti Lerner Arizona Republic. We Outside, Outside!

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