In addition to the tattoo of an unknown girl with her face painted, another popular way to have this tattoo portrayed is to have famous celebrities incorporated into this tattoo with their face painted. Marylin Monroe is extremely popular in this style of tattoo. She is already a cultural icon so to add her to this tattoo only makes it pop a little more and it gets people talking about it. No matter the woman chosen for this tattoo you will notice that she always a young and beautiful woman.

Colors and Symbols

The colors used in painting the faces of people celebrating the Day of the Dead or the tattoos representing this day also have meaning. Specific images have meaning as well and below are some of meanings behind these images and colors.

Purple

– In many cultures, and specifically those celebrating the Day of the Dead, purple is a color of suffering, mourning and grief

Yellow

– Yellow represents togetherness and unity. It is the color of the sun which provides warmth and happiness.

Pink

– Pink is also a color that represents happiness and positivity.

White

– When used in these paintings and tattoos, white represents purity, hope and the spirit.

Red

– Red represents life, love and blood

Marigolds

– These are common in Day of the Dead art and represent a path in the afterlife. In many cases the petals from this flower are spread to guide the spirits to the celebration.

Calavera

– These are just another world for sugar skulls and commonly used in Day of the Dead imagery.

Ofrendas

– These are the altars that are used to put food, alcohol, soda and gifts on for the dead. It is a long journey to the celebration, so the spirits are said to be famished by the time they arrive.

The Calavera Catrina Tattoo

The Calavera Catrina is an image that was created sometime between 1910 and 1913 as a broadside by Jose Guadalupe Posada. It was published in 1930 by Blas Vanegas Arroyo, Pablo O’Higgiafia and Frances Toor.