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On Día de Muertos, Mexican families leave sugar skulls (often decorated with names of deceased loved ones) on the altars of people who have died.
They are seen as an offering to the dead and shows that the deceased’s family still remembers their soul, even after they have passed from physical life. These sugar skulls are also placed on graves or inside one’s home as a way of helping the deceased’s spirit return to Earth.
Prior to the Spanish invasion of Mexico, people would leave real skulls on the altars constructed for their dead. The Spaniards, however, thought this tradition was gruesome. As a result, they replaced the skulls with ones made from a sugar paste.
Sugar skull tattoos have become increasingly popular in recent times, and are often a way of commemorating loved ones who have passed on.
These tattoo design ideas are popular among both men and women because of how meaningful they can be. For men, monochrome and darker colors are used to add a more masculine feel, while women opt towards vibrant colors. Traditionally, up to four different colors are used on each skull, and this is reflected in tattoos of these popular Mexican icons.
