Sexy Tattoo
There are many
Gothic and macabre symbols, that can be inked on your skin. Dragons, bats and other animals of the night, or gravestones.. but nothing makes a statement as much as a skull. Skull tattoos are normally associated with morbidity and grimness, but there is a much deeper and hidden meaning behind such a design. While flaming skulls or tribal skulls are some popular ideas, a unique and symbolic design type are Day of the Dead
skull tattoos. What is the meaning and story, behind such a different
"tattoo design"? In this article, take a look at the skull design of all the
'Day of the Dead tattoo' and a brief idea of the day itself.
The Day of the Dead or
Día de los Muertos in Spanish, is the day of remembrance and prayers, for lost loved ones. On this day, family and friends who have passed away, are prayed for and honored, with feasts and celebrations. This day falls on the 2nd of November, after All Saints Day (Nov 1st), and in tandem with
All Soul's Day. While it is a predominant festival of Mexico and Latin America, it is observed in a similar fashion, but lesser extent, in the Philippines and United States. Visits to the cemetery to pray at the graves of the departed are done. At home, private altars are built and decorated with photos and items, that belonged to the
'dead person'. Favorite foods and drinks are also placed on the altar, as a reminder of the deceased preferences.
Day of the Dead Skull Tattoos History
The
symbol of the
skull has been an integral part of the Day of the Dead, since its origin during the
"Aztec period". The Aztecs kept their enemies skulls as a sign of victory. The skull of a friend or loved one was preserved, and used during the festival, to symbolize their presence, for it was believed that the dead would visit the living on that day. The practice of keeping the actual human skulls, died out with the arrival of the
Spanish Conquistadors. But the skull plays a major role in the festival, albeit through representation. Calacas or wooden skulls are worn by revelers, who dance, as part of the celebrations. A staple and favorite altar offering is the sugar skull. A paste of sugar, meringue powder and water, is mixed and put in a skull mold, to form a white hard skull. Icing, food colorings, and personal effects like "flowers" and hats, are used to decorate the skull. Space is left on the forehead, to inscribe the name of the dead person. A relative or friend of the deceased can eat the skull. This tradition isn't morbid, rather it is a powerful stance against death itself. It symbolizes that death is merely a transition from one life into another.
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