Polystyrene tray containing female 'Death' figures, from Mexican Day of the Dead festival

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This is one of a range of items for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (31 October - 2 November). Families use these to decorate altars (ofrendas) dedicated to dead relations. The female skeletons probably represent Death, and remind us we all die.

This polystyrene tray contains ten plastic female skeletons, each with pink, brown or white hair and bright lipstick. Each wears either a hairy garment or a sash, and each carries a bottle of beer in one hand and a bat in the other. All can be suspended.

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.

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-337-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.1428
• Date: 1999
  
• Material: Polystyrene; plastic
  Tray / figure, skeleton
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Tray / figure, skeleton
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Central America, Mexico
  Mexico, Mexico City (Sonora Market)
  
• Event: Mexican Day of the Dead festival
  
• Description: Polystyrene tray containing multiple plastic `witch` skeleton figures, each with a bat and bottle of beer, made for the Mexico Day of the Dead festival, 1999
  
• References:
  • Carmichael, E. and Sayer, C., The Skeleton at the feast. Texas: 1997 
• Translations:
• Related Records: