The fashion trend is the "Calavera" skull, the "Day of the Dead" holiday, and what does Halloween have to do with it?

Mexico is a country that many travelers from all over the world want to visit. Mexico gives its guests the opportunity not only to fully relax on the beautiful beaches, but also to get acquainted with the interesting culture, ancient architectural monuments and unusual cuisine. Speaking of this country, many imagine a colorful Mexican skull.

Cultural Heritage

Mexican culture is very surprising to first-time foreigners coming here. Images of skeletons and skulls follow travelers everywhere. In souvenir stores tourists are happy to be shown symbols of death and offered to buy brightly colored skulls or materials with a skull pattern as a keepsake.

Tourists are perplexed by the skeleton-shaped mannequins in the stores. Horrible figures associated with the end of life are present at all national holidays. To understand this, one must study the historical past of the state. And only then you can understand what the Mexican skull means.

Suitable places on the body for a tattoo with a skull

1. The optimal option - the image on the shoulder, most often so do men's tattoos. It will symbolize your courage and serious approach to any matter.
2. A small tattoo On the handAnd especially the skull with cards - a great option for gamblers, which will attract good luck.
3. The image of a skull on the chest Suitable for men in excellent physical shape, which they like to demonstrate to others. Such a tattoo definitely will not go unnoticed!
4. You can do a whole sleeve on your forearm With flowers, a crown and other elements. The choice depends on your preferences, but with large tattoos, it is recommended to come up with an individual design that will make you stand out among others.
5. A universal option is a tattoo on your legEspecially if you often wear shorts or cropped pants. It is suitable for men and women, is characterized by durability, can be any size. Most often performed in black and white color.
6. Tattoo on the back with a wolf or other aggressive animal - a typical male choice, which shows us a bold and confident man.
7. Extravagant option - a tattoo or on the face.For example, a small skull on the temple. Important: be especially careful with such tattoos, because they are rather difficult to reduce, in addition all associates will know about your character and preferences.

The Cult of Death

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Aztecs inhabited the territory. Unlike the Europeans, the Aztecs did not have a strict taboo on the subject of death. The religion of these people somewhat differently told people about the causes that lead the human soul to heaven.

According to the doctrine, happiness after death can find only the valiant warriors who died necessarily in battle, or women who died in childbirth. All others, who left this life peacefully at an advanced age, were to meet the god of the netherworld Mictlantekuitli. He would appear before the deceased wearing a mask in the shape of a skull and determine his soul for destruction. Believing this, the Aztecs loved the world even more and performed sacrifices in an attempt to placate the majesty of death. Mexican skull culture is still being studied today.

Modern Mexicans revere death, inventing affectionate definitions for it:

• Black Mistress;
• beloved;
• Sacred death;
• Bride.

What does the skull tattoo mean?

The generally accepted meaning of this drawing - death, fading, the embodiment of transience and the rapid end of human life. Naturally, such themes are not suitable for every person, so you should not do the tattoo if you are a cheerful person.

1. Skull with wings can represent an optimistic outcome, the beginning of a new life, the transition to heaven. This tattoo gives a hopeful feeling.
2. The opposite meaning has skull with a snake. This image symbolizes immortality and simultaneous wisdom, gives confidence in yourself, your strength, acts as a talisman.
3. You can place on your forearm or other part of your body The skull of an animal An animal skull (owl, bull, goat, wolf). It will symbolize courage, aspiration to go to the end.
4. Note: the skull is also used in criminal environment, it means determination and desire for power, it is often used by criminal authority figures.
5. The skull with the clock Symbolizes the transience of time. He can serve as a reminder that life is not eternal and need to have time to do as much as possible.
6. Skull with a knife - Symbol of belligerence and aggression, suitable for men who are not ready to compromise and used to fight for a place under the sun. The same means a tattoo with a dragon.
7. Skull with feathers Or with the image of a black raven can often be found among the gothic culture, the representatives of informal groups that like to think about death, its impact on our world.

Often this tattoo is popular with bikers who like to flirt with death. The image serves as a reminder that it is necessary to take everything possible from life.

Feast of the Dead

The fusion of Christian and pagan cultures resulted in the Feast of the Dead. In Aztec times there were memorial rituals. There were two main ones:

• Mikkailuitontli in honor of the children who died.
• Socotuetzi, dedicated to the memory of the adult generation.

Then the Catholics conquered the territories and brought their holiday, Memorial Day for the Dead, which is celebrated on November 2, immediately after All Saints' Day.

Gradually these holidays combined, and modern Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead for two whole days in early November. The Mexican skull is often used to create carnival souvenirs and costumes.

Many believe that on November 1-2 the souls of deceased loved ones can visit the living. Mexicans come to the cemetery, bring gifts to the graves, talk to the souls of the deceased, and remember the best moments of life. But these days there is no place for sadness and grief. People arrange various revelries, turn to the Goddess of Death and ask her for happiness, health and woes for their enemies. Death is not the end of life for them.

The symbol of the Day of the Dead in Mexico is the Calavera, which means "Mexican skull" in Spanish. Even children are not left out of this holiday. They enjoy eating coffins made of chocolate and skulls made of sugar.

Photo of the skull tattoo

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Tattoos Calaveras

Recently, tattoos with images of symbols of death are very popular. These can be:

• crosses;
• skulls;
• snakes;
• crows.

Putting a tattoo on the body is not only another way to express respect for people who have gone forever from this world, to worship their memory, but also a symbol of courage and rebirth. That is why many people order a Mexican skull. The meaning of the picture does not carry anything scary or terrifying.

Black strokes.

Black gel eyeliner in a jar is another necessary for creating a makeup calavera beauty product. For example, Gel Intenza by L'Oréal Paris will do.

Use this color to paint the eyelids and eye area, as well as the tip of the nose (make an inverted heart with a "tail" on the bridge of the nose). Using a thin brush, draw "teeth" on the skin of the lips. You can go beyond them and thus stretch the "smile". Before doing this, however, it is worth applying a bright lipstick.

© tere_zzz_a

Calaveras - who is it?

But at the pinnacle of popularity among tattoos is the symbol of the day of the dead - Calavera. The goddess of death is depicted as a girl who has a skull instead of a head, flowers instead of eyes. The skull is decorated with amazing patterns, in which floral motifs occupy not the last place.

Tattoos with the image of Calaveras prefer to be stuffed in the chest, hips or shoulders. Also do two symmetrical tattoos at once, for example, on the arms and thighs. Clothing manufacturers also often use her image. T-shirts and T-shirts with a skull in bright colors are especially loved by the younger generation. During carnival, many girls wear a mask depicting the Queen of the Dead. In Mexico, such attire is especially popular.

The Day of the Dead is a tradition that originated in the country long before the Spanish conquerors came there. This is the most national and very unusual holiday in Mexico, the main attribute of which - Mexican skull. It is loved not only by adults, but also by children. And many Mexicans are sure that if it didn't exist, it should definitely have been invented.

White Background

Start by preparing your skin - its tone should be if not quite white, then at least pale. To achieve this result, use either water-based makeup (it is a very safe version, on the one hand, and allows removing your makeup without a lot of effort), or use a foundation of the lightest shade. Special pigments like SFX from NYX Professional Makeup will also work.

Use a damp sponge for application. The coverage should be dense, so don't skimp!

Copyright © k.rina_mv

The Meaning of Tattoos for Girls

The image of Saint Death is a very powerful and effective amulet for girls. By making a Muertos style tattoo, the owner gets the ability to look completely irresistible in the eyes of men. The image, applied to the body, helps to keep a loved one close, return a stray guy or charm a stranger you like. Fans of the original and surprising jewelry tattoo attracts unusual and bright - for drawings use saturated shades of red, white, green and black.

The tattoo is chosen by brave and determined individuals, for whom death is not just the end of life, but the transition to another reality, a new form of existence. Many tattoo holders are interested in the traditions of Mexico and the cult of communicating with the dead. The tattoo subjects often include flowers and butterflies, which Mexicans believe are where the souls of the dead move to. Colorful details enliven Muertos-style body art, adding positivity to the somber content.

Prom Queen

The most chic and enchanting lady at the Mexican Carnival of the Dead is Katrina Calavera. Katrina is not at all derived from Catherine. In Spanish, her name means "Skull Dapper." Katrina is the mistress of the ball of the dead, her images are so common that they have become one of Mexico's calling cards.

The cheerful beauty in the intricate hat is the embodiment of the feast of death

Katrina's origins are most mundane: in 1913, engraver and artist Jose Guadalupe Posada carved an engraving of a cheerful, dressy skeleton lady. The unpretentious picture drove Mexico crazy; the image of the dapper Calaveras hit the spot. Later, the great Diego Rivera (Mexico's most famous artist after Frida Kahlo) immortalized Katrina in his painting Dream of a Sunday afternoon in Alameda Park. And in Guillermo Del Toro's recent animated film, The Book of Life, it is the dressed-up Katrina Calavera who rules the land of the dead.

This, of course, is an imitation. But in the Middle Ages, the heads were real.

If we look more closely, we see that early November is a time of remembrance of the dead almost everywhere in the Catholic world, and here Catholic Mexico does not stand out. But it is Mexico that commemorates its dead in such a unique way that it was included on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2003. It's not a children's Halloween party with its traditional witches and pumpkins. But it's also not the Celtic Samhain, when on the eve of winter the world of the dead sweeps through the world of the living, and God forbid you should get in its way. In fact, this day has nothing to do with Christianity - it is much older than the first missionary on Mexican soil - or with European mythology (indeed, why would it?). It was only under the influence of the church that the Day of the Dead was moved to November 1, as it is throughout the Catholic world.

The holiday was originally celebrated in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, from July 24 to August 12. Death accompanied the Aztecs constantly, so it was necessary to maintain a good relationship with it. Festivals lasted all month, accompanied by games, many rituals, and, of course, sacrifices. Blood was necessary for the gods to move on; thus, sacrifice kept the universe alive. Sacrifices were made of animals, birds, and insects. Sometimes the Aztec voluntarily sacrificed his blood to the gods, inflicting wounds on himself, or his misery, bruising his body with thorns.

But the highest form of sacrifice was human sacrifice. The skin of the sacrifice was painted with blue chalk. A stone slab was placed on top of a huge pyramid on which the victim was laid and the ritual began. The stomach of the victim was cut through with a ritual knife made of obsidian (it was difficult to open the chest with a stone knife, but the soft tissues of the stomach could do it), and then the priest dipped his hands into the still living person, took out his heart and showed it to the Sun. The heart was placed in a special stone vessel, and the body was dumped on a ladder. The skull, polished to a shine, took its place in the tsompantle, the "tower of skulls.

Sacrifices could also be made in other ways: tortured to death, drowned, or shot. It all depended on which of the gods the energetic aid was intended. It is true that scholars cannot believe the claimed extent of these rites: obviously, the number of victims was exaggerated for the sake of propaganda. But even if there were not hundreds of thousands, but thousands, the bloody rites do not become less horrific.

Prisoners of war were usually sacrificed, but it happened that the Aztec offered himself as a sacrifice of his own free will. How to explain this? A better afterlife in the harsh Aztec world awaited the warrior who fell on the battlefield and the man who ended his life on the altar under the knife of a priest. Of course, the gods were fed with his blood! Even the enemy who had been sacrificed was an equal part of the fighting brotherhood.

In the Eastern Paradise, in the House of the Sun, these lucky men lived in gardens filled with flowers, competing with one another in strength and skill. They were entrusted with an honorable duty: they accompanied the Sun on his journey across the sky, from dawn to midway, carrying him on a stretcher of precious quetzal bird feathers. At the zenith they were met by women who had died in childbirth. They were surrounded by no less reverence than the victims and warriors. These women lived in the Western Paradise, in the House of the Grain, and accompanied the Sun from the midway to the horizon. There the Sun would go to the underworld, and the next day all over again. These women were called siuapipiljtin. They were pictured with a skull instead of a head and claws on their hands and feet. A strand of hair and the middle finger of the left hand of a woman who died in childbirth made a warrior invincible - it was enough to attach them to a shield.

Southern Paradise was under the jurisdiction of the god of rain, thunder, water, and agriculture. The god's name was Tlaloc, and his country was Tlalocan. He took to him those killed by lightning, drowned, suicides, and those who died of dropsy, rheumatism, or leprosy. Slaves and children were sacrificed to him and drowned for it. The Southern Paradise was a land of eternal spring. There were always flowers blooming, there was always plenty to eat, which not everyone could do in life. Judging by the surviving codices, the souls in Tlalocana had fun and indulged in entertainment: swimming in the river, catching butterflies and singing songs.

At a Mexican carnival, the goddess Mictlanciuatl would well pass for her

The souls would return to earth after four years. They could become hummingbirds or brightly colored butterflies. Those who did not die a heroic death and fall into the hands of Tlaloc were doomed to go to the North, to Myctlan, where Myctlantekutli (the Master of Myctlan) and his consort Myctlancyhuatl with her skull-face and her skirt of rattlesnakes waited for them. The journey to Miktlan took four days, was difficult and dangerous, and living in the Northern Underworld was far from as fun and honorable as in the Houses of Sun and Grain and in Tlalocan. The souls in Miktlan spent their days in despair, boredom, cold, and hunger. For four years on the Feast of the Dead, gifts were brought to the souls: tobacco, partridges, incense, flatbread-everything that could please and sustain them. After four years, the soul would finally rest in Mictlan - and the sacrifices would cease.

When the Spanish soldiers of Cortés saw the statues of the gods and realized exactly how these monsters were worshipped, they recognized them as devils, which deeply offended the Aztec ruler Montezuma. In 2006, during excavations in the village of Tecuac, near Mexico City, were found the bones of one of the last Aztec mass sacrifices - 550 people from the caravan of Cortez. The caravan included both conquistadors and friendly Indians, including women and children. They were sacrificed by ripping open their chests and ripping out their hearts (at least, that was the damage found on the skeletons). The remaining bones show traces of teeth and knives. These findings are further evidence that the Aztecs practiced ritual cannibalism.

Death did not stop Lucador Juan from playing Guacamelee! - he himself laid to rest many of the living dead to save El Presidente's daughter.

Yes, the white men who came from across the sea and brought with them terrible animals - dogs and horses - might have found much of the orderly and orderly life of the Aztecs unbearable and repugnant. The two worlds were so dissimilar that no amicable agreement could be expected. The conquistadors had guns, bullets, cannons, and unprecedented passion. Victory was theirs. But a few centuries later, in the great melting pot called Mexico, a new culture was formed that united the Aztecs and Europeans.

The Sacred Death invariably finds its worshippers

The cult of the Sacred Death (Santa Muerte) has recently been gaining popularity in Mexico and beyond. The Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico and all of Latin America, and the ancient Aztec deities of the dead, personifications of Death, who helps the living, merged in this image. The Catholic Church does not approve of this cult: Santa Muerte worshippers are accused of black magic or classified as Satanists. But they consider themselves good Christians: how can the Holy Death violate the will of God, who created it?

The cult was born in the mid-20th century in the darkest strata of society. People turn to the Holy Death with the kind of requests with which one would not go to church. Indeed, it is awkward to ask the Virgin Mary for the elimination of a competitor, the safe sale of a batch of drugs, or success in the work of the panel. And Saint Death will help: she's used to it, everyone is equal to her - a prostitute, a drug lord, and a teenage runaway from home. The Sacred Death won't ask how you're not ashamed to ask for such bad things. The Sacred Death will not impose any conditions, will not ask you to reform yourself. The Sacred Death has many names, from Skinny to Bride. You can give her anything - an apple, candy, a bullet, money, or cigars. Any sacrifice will be graciously accepted. Throughout Latin America you can find a skeleton figurine in ample attire. The skeleton holds a globe, hourglass or scythe. The Holy Death attire can come in a variety of colors - depending on what you ask for.

(Maurice Marcellin / Wikimedia | CC BY)

The Sacred Death is unpretentious. Just don't quarrel with her and you'll be fine.

The traditional color of the cape is white, because the most popular names for Saint Death are White Girl and White Sister. But the cape can also be red, gold, or green, depending on the request with which the devotee came. Holy Death medallions, pictures, special prayer sheets, and most importantly, colored votive candles, are sold everywhere. Vow candles are purchased especially eagerly: they come in all sizes, may have a request to the Godmother (another name for the Saint of Death) written on them, or may have a decoration of skulls. The most common candle is white; it is an acceptable sacrifice to the White Girl and signifies purity, promise, protection and patronage. White candles are most often used in public rituals. Well, and for each specific occasion use special candles. The symbolism of the colors, as a rule, is clear, but an experienced seller will always give a hint to a novice adept. If it is necessary to help in matters of the heart, candles for Santissima (as it is also called) are chosen in the color of blood - the redder, the better. Violet (lavender) candles help to heal, and coffee-colored candles are used for acquiring new knowledge (they are used by students who want to succeed during exams). Green will settle problems with the law and restore justice, gold or yellow will bring financial prosperity, and black will help in difficult life situations, especially those related to the "dark side" of the cult. Santissima in rainbow cape - also called "Santa Muerte of the Seven Kingdoms" - means "I want it all at once." The rainbow candle reflects all aspects - love, justice, healing, and wealth. But the seven-color candle, moreover, is often called "For the destruction of my enemies" - and it is a very powerful sorcery. During the Soccer World Cup, the Sacred Death is dressed up in green, white and red - the colors of the Mexican flag - and a soccer ball is placed in her hands: may the White Girl bring good luck to the national team.

The altar for the Sacred Death is very simple: the figure of Santa Muerte is placed in the middle, gifts are placed around her, candles in the right colors are lit, and you're ready to go. However, we must remember that Santa Muerte is jealous, and no one else's images should be around but her own. The icon of the apostle Judas Thaddeus, who is prayed to in all difficult cases, is also very popular in Mexico.

Santa Muerte statuettes, from tiny, palm-sized ones to enormous ones that can't be lifted, are sold in "unkind" neighborhoods almost everywhere. For the worse life is, the more hope is needed. And Saint Death willingly bails out his admirers.