The Day of the Dead, or Dia De Los Muertos or Dia de Muertos in Spanish, is an annual celebration that acknowledges the spirits of the dead where one pays homage to their ancestors. It is majorly observed in Mexico and falls on the same days as All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween, and the following Catholic holidays, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which celebrate all beatified Saints and all passed ancestors respectively. The effect the three holidays is to give respect and honor to the dead but also commemorate them with festivals and parties. The Day of the Dead has come to be celebrated two days after Halloween, November 2nd, in many areas throughout North America.

This day progressed from rituals performed by the Aztecs that honored departed loved ones, warriors and rulers. When the Spanish showed up in the New World, they used indigenous beliefs and combined them with the ceremonies and beliefs of the religious practices of Catholics.

In this post we will review some of the images and tattoos you will see when getting the Day of the Dead tattoo. We hope that by the end of this post you will have a better understanding of this important day and why so many choose to get a tattoo that represents this holiday.

The Sugar Skull

Sugar skulls are one of the most commonly included symbol in Day of the Dead tattoos. The sugar skull or calavera is a skull, generally made from hardened sugar, which has been decorated with flowers, dots, and other patterns that represent life. They are used as part of the celebration and serve as a representation of a treasured ancestor. The skulls are often designed with roses and names and dates that serve as a memorial to a loved one. Sugar skulls are usually vibrantly decorated with bright and bold colors but can be done in greyscale to create a less cheerful appearance.