Skeleton puppet, from Mexican Day of the Dead festival

This puppet is one of a range of items made for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (31 October - 2 November). It is a children's toy. Skeleton imagery is used to remind people that we will all die, and that we should celebrate life.

This guitar-playing skeleton puppet is made of thin card, mounted on a dowelling rod. Both legs and one arm are jointed, and a thread can be pulled to move the legs and make the arm appear to play the guitar. The skeleton has a green feather on its head.

The Mexican Day of the Dead festival combines the Christian feasts of All Souls' Day (31 October) and All Saints' Day (Todos Santos, Hallowmas, 1 November) with pre-Christian beliefs, in celebrating the return of the dead with feasts and offerings.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-190-004-338-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland K.1999.1429
Date:	1999
Material:	Paper; dowelling; thread; moveable
Dimensions:
What:	Puppet
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Central America, Mexico Mexico, Mexico City (Sonora Market)
Event:	Mexican Day of the Dead festival
Description:	Paper puppet of guitar-playing skeleton, on dowelling stick, with hinged limbs moveable by pulling a thread, made for the Mexico Day of the Dead festival, 1999
References:	Carmichael, E. and Sayer, C., The Skeleton at the feast. Texas: 1997
Translations:
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