Body Art Inspired by Day of the Dead

A Brief History of Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead, or Día de Los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday that commemorates and celebrates the lives of those who have passed away. The holiday has roots in Aztec traditions and Catholicism, and it is typically celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. Today, the holiday is celebrated with traditional foods, drinks, altars, processions, and more. Let's take a deeper look at the history of this fascinating holiday.

Origins in Aztec Tradition

The modern day celebration of Day of the Dead has its origins in an Aztec festival that honored the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The festival was celebrated in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, which corresponds to our month of August. The festival lasted for a full month and commemorated the lives of those who had passed away. The Aztecs believed that Mictecacihuatl ruled over Mictlan, the land of the dead, and that she helped guide the souls of the deceased to their final resting place.

When Spanish colonization began in earnest in the 16th century, many indigenous people were forced to convert to Catholicism. As a result, many traditional holidays and celebrations were combined with Catholic holidays and traditions. One of these was the combination of All Saint's Day, which Catholics celebrated on November 1st, with the celebration of the goddess Mictecacihuatl. Gradually, these two celebrations began to merge and eventually became known as "Day of the Dead" (Día de Los Muertos).

Celebrating dia de Los Muertos

Over time, the holiday has evolved and taken on different forms in different cultures. In Mexico, for example, sugar skulls and marigolds are often used to decorate gravesites and homes. In Filipino culture, meanwhile, it's traditional to visit cemeteries and clean relatives' graves. Families will also cook special meals and hold feasts in honor of their loved ones who have passed away.

Inspired by the Art of Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is a beautiful holiday that celebrates life even in death. It is a fusion of Aztec tradition and Catholicism that has been practiced for centuries. Today many find inspriation in the art and traditions incorporating parts of the celebration either into their own Day of the Dead events or into Halloween parties and events. We at slamdunkmarketing have put together a portrait gallery of some of our favorite Day of the Dead inspired face paintings and decorations to inspire you this season.

Download Day of the Dead Artwork

Click on any of the images below, to view full-size artwork and download to your computer, tablet or phone.