According to National Geographic, La Catrina is the Aztec figure Mictecacihuatl, the death goddess of Chicunamictlan. Her role was to watch over the bones of the dead.
La Catrina symbolizes the cycle of life, and serves as a reminder to enjoy life, but also embrace death. She is a sacred symbol of the Mexican celebration, Día de Muertos. A historical figure who has been honored in Mexican culture for centuries.
The image of La Catrina was created in 1910 by José Guadalupe Posada, an illustrator, lithographer, and caricaturist from Aguascalientes. However, its original name was “La Calavera Garbancera,” and it was not created for Day of the Dead, but as a satire for society.
Noun. catrina (plural catrinas) An elegantly dressed skeleton figure; used as a symbol of the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, celebration.
The word “catrín” describes an elegant, well-dressed man, accompanied by a lady with the same characteristics. This style was a classic image of the aristocracy in the late 19th and 20th centuries. By dressing her in this way, Diego Rivera turned “La Calavera Garbancera” into “La Catrina.”
La Calavera Catrina draws inspiration from Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of death and guardian of human remains in the underworld. Centuries ago, this goddess presided over annual Aztec festivals honoring the dead.
Catrina is a variation of Catherine; it is also the simplified spelling of the Scottish name Catriona, another variant of Catherine. Catherine is the French form of Katherine, which has been associated from an early date with the Greek adjective 'katharos' meaning 'pure'.
She began as a zinc etching circa 1910 by Mexican printmaker & illustrator José Guadalupe Posada, as a satirical portrait of Mexican aristocracy. 2) Her appearance coincided with the start of the Mexican Revolution, a time when classes were highly segmented.
This is a catrina. It's a figure of a woman skeleton usually dressed in a nice dress with a large plumed hat. A male skeleton is called a "catrin." And why are they so prevalent during the Days of the Dead?
La Catrina has become a prominent symbol of death in Mexico, and is the inspiration for a lot of Day of the Dead makeup and costumes. People make figurines out of clay, wood or paper mache to celebrate her, and she is often seen dancing in parades. She is a reminder to remember the dead with good humour and warmth.
Butterflies – symbolic icon representing the belief in some areas of Mexico that when the deceased leaves this world and passes to eternal life in the early morning of November 2nd, their soul returns to earth as a butterfly to visit their loved ones.
The Calavera Catrina dolls have a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. They were originally created by artist Jose Guadalupe Posada as a satirical comment on the wealthy Mexican elites who tried to distance themselves from their indigenous roots by adopting European fashion and customs.
As the Monarch, la Catrina dances, worships, and celebrates the return of the spirits. Celebrating the journey of the souls assures the continuity of life. These are the native Pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico such as the American Indian cultures of the United States.
Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments.
The skeletons also portray the idea that death is a part of the cycle of life. Bride and Groom. The two days of Los Dias de los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead, represent the most important celebration of the year in Mexico, especially in rural areas.
A world-record-breaking Catrina
Puerto Vallarta's Catrina stands at an incredible 24 meters high and was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records on November 2nd, 2022.
The art of the Day of the Dead
The calavera (a word that means “skull” in Spanish but that has come to mean the entire skeleton) has become one of the most recognizable cultural and artistic elements of the Day of the Dead festivities.
According to National Geographic, La Catrina is the Aztec figure Mictecacihuatl, the death goddess of Chicunamictlan. Her role was to watch over the bones of the dead.
La Calavera Catrina ("The Dapper [female] Skull") had its origin as a zinc etching created by the Mexican printmaker and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) around 1910.
It is an iconic costume, but while the skull is a traditional Aztec symbol, La Calaveras Catrina's roots are far more modern. La Catrina was created by Jose Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican printmaker and lithographer. Posada is credited with popularizing the calavera (skeleton) images that are now so common.
La Catrina is a female calaca (skeleton) or calavera (skull), that is usually dressed up in fancy attire. Her striking image is one of the most recognizable Day of the Dead representations. But what is the story behind Mexico's elegant lady of death? Her origins might surprise you.
She is offered as a satirical portrait of those Mexican natives who, Posada felt, were aspiring to adopt European aristocratic traditions in the pre-revolution era.
Lady Death is sometimes a protagonist, and sometimes an antagonist in Brian Pulido's Chaos! comics. She was the main antagonist of Evil Ernie series.
The Santa Muerte, also known as Santisima Muerte, is the beloved goddess of death whose origins date back to the pre-Hispanic period of Mexico.