#832 The sugar skull helps get the party started

Last November, I found one of the coolest, most unique, if not slightly macabre, things I had ever seen. It was at a Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. The Day of the Dead isn’t another B-rated zombie flick, no, it’s a celebration where family and friends of the departed gather together to pray for and remember their relatives and help support them along their spiritual journey. In short, it’s a party for the dead and it isn’t sad in the least. In fact, it’s a happy occasion where people are able to spiritually re-connect with loved ones who are long gone.

Anyone that has been to or has seen pictures of the Día de Muertos celebration knows that many of the attendees dress up in costumes resembling skeletons and decorate these costumes with colorful paints, flowers and ribbons. A side effect of ancient commerce and this age old tradition is something called sugar skull or sugar Calaveras. These are candy skulls adorned to look like the ones used in the Día de Muertos parades and they are completely edible although it might not be recommend to do so in one sitting, or at all, as they are constructed of pure sugar and some harmless dyes.

The Sugar Skull – Cool, Scary or Just Plain Fun?

The sugar skull was introduced to the celebration in the 17th century and they have been a staple of Día de Muertos events ever since. At some celebrations, you can buy them with your own name imprinted on the forehead, something really cool for a kid, but looking back now, that was kind of an odd thing to pine for.

Now back to the eating part. Although in theory, the sugar skull is edible, it is usually best not to eat them as they may be adorned with inedible beads and other ornaments that could present a choking hazard. You wouldn’t want to choke to death on your Día de Muertos sugar skull now would you? Another reason not to eat them is because these are usually made by family members of the deceased, not in a large production facility and, as such, they begin making them many months in advance. You could bite into a sugar skull that was made six months ago and I am not sure you would like the taste very much.

A sugar skull is meant to put a smile on your face and help people remember their deceased loved ones. Check out a Día de Muertos festival this year and be sure to pick up a sugar skull or two. Just one look and you’ll see what I mean, they’ll make you smile.

If you would like to learn more at the sugar skull and the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, check out DiaDeMuertos.com or LaDayOfTheDead.com/. Both are really good sites with fantastic information.

Do you have a sugar skull? Have you ever made one? Click here to leave a comment and share your opinion and experience. Would love to hear from you.