DIA_DE_LOS_MUERTOS

Above, from left to right, Oralia Diaz Medina, Mary Alejandre, and Ester Solorio show their intricate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) makeup, dressed as Catrinas, on Oct. 31. This year, the trio wanted to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos on Halloween to show people what their traditional holiday is all about. For Dia de Los Muertos, women often dress up as Catrinas or La Calavera Catrina, which in Spanish translates to The Dapper (female) Skull. They paint their faces with elaborate makeup and dress elegantly as female skeletons. This iconography serves as the most famous symbol of Mexico’s Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos.  During Day of the Dead celebrations Nov. 1-2, Catrina’s image is seen everywhere: painted on people’s faces, sculpted from clay, printed on merchandise and built as giant public art installations.Helen H. Richardson photos 

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