Edible sugar skulls are made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. These include granulated sugar (of course!), powdered sugar, and water. You’ll also need to pick up a few extra ingredients, so make a list and head to the store.
What Is a Sugar Skull (Calavera) & What Does It Represent?
You’ve likely spotted sugar skulls in popular media, design, and fashion. These colorful skulls are symbols of the Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico, and they’ve spread across the globe. On Day of the Dead each year, people place sugar skulls on graves and altars in honor of their deceased loved ones.
This is a festival that’s all about celebrating death and remembering one’s family members.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What is a Calavera or Sugar Skull?
- What is the Origin of Sugar Skulls?
- What is the Meaning Behind Sugar Skulls?
- Sugar Skulls in Pop Culture
- How to Make a Sugar Skull
- Sugar Skull Decoration Ideas
- Where Can You Buy a Sugar Skull?
- Literary Calaveras
How can a sugar skull be used to remember a family member and honor the dead? These skulls have come a long way since their first use, and now they’re symbols for a variety of different things. Believe it or not, in some cultures, these sugar skulls have a language of their own, each one meaning something different.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at sugar skulls and what they represent.
What is a Calavera or Sugar Skull?
A sugar skull is a type of Calavera or a representation of a human skull. These are called sugar skulls since they’re traditionally made of sugar. Today sugar skulls are often made of a variety of things like chocolate, nuts, and other treats.
These skulls play a large role in the Day of the Dead . This holiday follows All Saints’ Day , and it’s a way for people to honor their dead. Families flock to gravesites, offering gifts and food for their ancestors. People join together to eat, drink, tell stories, and celebrate the circle of life.
This is a time of year when the lines between the land of the living and the land of the dead blur. According to superstition, souls of deceased loved ones roam the earth, and these skulls are a reminder of that.
People offer sugar skulls on graves and family altars during the Day of the Dead. They recognize the person who has passed, and the individual’s name is written on the forehead of the skull. While it’s a clear symbol of death, it’s also a symbol of life.
What is the Origin of Sugar Skulls?
The origin of sugar skulls dates back to the early days of the Aztec empire. While it’s interesting to study death in different cultures , it’s also important to look back in time at how people who came before us also handled the passing of their loved ones. In Aztec culture , people would make altars for their dead similar to how they do now during the Day of the Dead. However, they would put real skeletons on them.
Once the Spanish explorers invaded the Aztec empire, they changed this tradition. Instead, they began making skulls with a sugar paste. This is a technique that’s actually from the Middle East. It’s known as alfeñique , and it traveled through Spain before arriving in the New World.
The technique involves mixing sugar, hot water, and lemon to create a moldable material that’s similar to caramel. In addition to edible ingredients, clay was also used. Soon, this festival merged with similar Catholic holidays.
Today, thousands of years of culture and tradition go into these sugar skull creations. Today, local Mexican cultures and groups adapted these skulls to suit their own festivities, and it’s unlikely you’ll find any two that look the same. Knowing that these sweet skulls date back to ancient times just makes this festival even more magical.
How to Draw a Mexican Sugar Skull Real Easy – Calavera – Dia de Muertos
Learn to draw a Mexican Sugar Skull real easy with this easy to follow, spoken tutorial video. Find all the hundred’s of DrawStuffRealEasy drawing videos on one page by clicking here.
Get DrawStuffRealEasy Drawing Books on Amazon here:
X This website uses cookies to improve your experience. To view videos and other stuff click Accept All button ACCEPT ALL or REJECT Read More Cookie settings
Manage consent
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category “Analytics”. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category “Functional”. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category “Necessary”. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category “Other. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category “Performance”. |
| viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
