I count myself fortunate to say that I grew up in a household where I knew from a young age what Día de los Muertos (day of the dead) was! My mom loved (and still loves) collecting handmade Mexican day of the dead La Catrinas, papel picados, sugar skulls, etc. While I don’t have Mexican heritage, I love the traditions and the meaning behind Día de los Muertos and I have always wanted to dress up in celebration of it. Día de los Muertos falls right after Halloween on November 1st and ends on November 2nd.
Now there is always the question of if dressing up for Día de los Muertos is cultural appropriation, and I feel that it’s super important to do your research before doing anything that involves another culture you are not a part of. For me, I did this look as an appreciation for the beautiful tradition and holiday! Here is a brief history of Día de los Muertos for you:
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2…El Día de los Muertos is not, as is commonly thought, a Mexican version of Halloween, though the two holidays do share some traditions, including costumes and parades. On the Day of the Dead, it’s believed that the border between the spirit world and the real world dissolve. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones. (source)
For this look I was inspired by sugar skull looks that I have seen in past Día de los Muertos celebration looks I’ve seen online and on Pinterest. The makeup was super simple! I did my makeup like I normally do but added extra contour around my nose and cheekbones. I then used a black liquid eyeliner to draw the lines and embellishments on my face. I had the flower crown from a past Halloween costume and the Mexican blouse is an old Free People find. I do live in embroidered Mexican blouses and LOVE them. If you are wanting to buy one, I would highly recommend finding a store on Etsy! You can find some beautiful Mexican artisans on there who create gorgeous shirts, dresses, etc.
It’s always fun to discover other cultures/other culture’s traditions and appreciate them for their uniqueness and beauty!
Are you familiar with Día de los Muertos? Do you celebrate it? Comment below and let me know!
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