Behind the Design

Day of the Dead Figurines

March 11, 2016

More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now central Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.

A ritual known today as Dia de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead. It is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States. Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls.

Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls also are placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend to honor the deceased.

Many celebrate this tradition all year long in their home with Day of the Dead figurines displayed in their homes. Made of clay each collectible figurine is hand-painted in bold acrylic paints and depicts a whimsical scene of the afterlife.

Our storefront also features a beautiful selection of Talavera Figurines. Each is richly painted in classic Talavera motifs and is handmade in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico, and embodies all the colorful charm of Mexican Talavera.

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