Día de los MuertosDay of the Dead

Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people.

The dead are celebrated and kept alive in memory and spirit and during Día de los Muertos, they may temporarily return to Earth.

Día de los Muertos

Common symbol is

Calavera “skull.”

Literary calaveras

poked fun at the living,

and eventually became

a popular part of Día

de los Muertos

celebrations.

Jose Guadalupe Posada1852-1913

Mexican Illustrator

Calaveras (literary subjects)

“Todos somos calaveras,” – Posada. “we are all skeletons.”

Underneath all our manmade trappings, we are all the same.

Calaveras (literary subjects)

Calaveras (literary subjects)

Calavera (skulls)Repousse (metal embossing)

Repousse (metal embossing)

Repousse (metal embossing)

skull stencil

trace paper

foam matmetal sheet

markers

embosstools

Repousse (metal embossing)