La Calavera Catrina

 

"La Calavera Catrina ('The Elegant Skull') is a 1913 zinc etching by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada. The image has since become a staple of Mexican imagery, and often is incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead in November, such as altars and calavera costumes. The etching was part of his series of calaveras, which were humorous images of contemporary figures depicted as skeletons, which often were accompanied by a poem." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Calavera_de_la_Catrina).

This morning armed with my camera I headed into the centre of Guadalajara to check out the Day of the Dead Celebrations.  The centre was buzzing, people were loading up with all the last minute necessities for the celebrations, candles, chocolate skulls with their names on them, flowers, cakes etc.  The smells from the market stalls was amazing, a mix of sugar, chocolate and cinnamon!!!  

However, the thing that really struck my fancy was all the different larger than life statues of Catrina.  Different groups within the city had made them and they were on

display all through the main area of the city.

There were Catrina's in traditional dress,

and others dressed in the 70's gear.

 Catrina's with mermaid tails and Catrina's

 made of recycled tin cans.  I have included

 some photos.  Hope you like them.