Decorative yellow tissue papercut, from Mexican Day of the Dead festival

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This papercut is one of a range of items made for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (31 October - 2 November). Families use these to decorate altars (ofrendas) dedicated to dead relations. The pumpkin design reflects American Hallowe'en (Halloween) influence.

This yellow tissue papercut features a pair of pumpkins. It was made, as part of a batch of papercuts, by striking a sharp-bladed cutting tool into a pad of tissue. The plain fringe at the top is for folding over and running a cord through, for suspension

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: 000-190-004-339-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.1430
• Date: 1999
  
• Material: Tissue, yellow
  Papercut / pumpkin lamp
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Papercut / pumpkin lamp
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Central America, Mexico
  Mexico, Mexico City (Sonora Market)
  
• Event: Mexican Day of the Dead festival
  
• Description: Yellow tissue papercut featuring two pumpkin lamps, 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: