{"id":6114,"date":"2021-01-30T08:12:32","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T16:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/?p=6114"},"modified":"2024-01-08T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T00:00:00","slug":"sugar-skull-tattoo-meaning-designs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saved-tattoo.com\/sugar-skull-tattoo-meaning-designs\/","title":{"rendered":"Sugar Skull And Calavera Tattoo: Meaning and Design Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding the perfect design for a new tattoo is always difficult. You want something that will look amazing, but also carry a deeper meaning and even cultural association. Well, if you’re looking for such a tattoo, you’re at the right place. A sugar skull or Calavera tattoo might be the right choice for you.<\/p>\n

The sugar skull or Calavera symbolism is associated with the Mexican culture, or to be more precise, with El Dia de Los Muertos<\/em>, or the Day of the Dead. In the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at the symbolism and meaning of the sugar skull tattoo, as well as look at some design ideas. So, without further ado, let’s get started!<\/p>\n

Sugar Skull Tattoos – Origin and Symbolism Explained<\/h2>\n
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Saved Tattoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

El Dia de los Muertos Celebration<\/h3>\n

Sugar skull or Calavera<\/em> symbolism is associated with the Day of the Dead<\/a>, which is celebrated on October 31, November 1, and November 2, which is also the All Souls Day. The celebration starts at midnights on All Hallow’s Eve, October 31.<\/p>\n

This day originates from the Aztec tradition<\/a> and rituals where instead of mourning over the death of a loved one, people honor and celebrate the departed, beloved member of their community and family. The tradition has remained to this day and in some parts of the world, it has even merged with the modern, Catholic belief and practices.<\/p>\n

As we mentioned, the sugar skull is one of the main symbolism of this tradition. It was brought by the Europeans, or the Spanish in the 17th century as a part of honoring the departed ones. The sugar skulls were placed at the altars where the rituals would take place. It is believed that the skulls represent the memory of the departed ones or the ancestors.<\/p>\n

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Image Source: Instagram<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Meaning of Sugar Skull or Calavera<\/h3>\n

Sugar skull or Calavera<\/a> represents a human skull, which is often handmade from sugar paste or clay. The skull is often decorated with items like icing, colored foil, feathers, beads, etc.<\/p>\n

One of the main attractions of these skulls is how colorful and cheerful they appear, since skulls globally are considered to be dark and morbid, as well as associated with the negative aspects of death.<\/p>\n

However, sugar skulls serve the purpose of honoring and celebrating the departed ones, the ancestors, and their lives. They also carry the meaning of rebirth into the next stage of life, which removes the sad and negative aspects of death. To these people, death is just a cessation of this life and the start of another one.<\/p>\n

Sugar Skull and Modern Culture or Interpretation<\/h3>\n
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Saved Tattoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Day of the Dead is celebrated to this day, and many countries or cultures around the world are starting to celebrate this day as well. Since the Day of the Dead co-occurs with Halloween, many people connect these two holidays and celebrate them together.<\/p>\n

In some parts of the world, instead of bringing actual handmade skulls to celebrations and rituals, many people tend to do face and body art using the popular elements of the sugar skull or Calavera<\/em>. This has also become a popular Halloween costume, but many consider it cultural appropriation rather than honoring the Mexican culture.<\/p>\n

Other modern interpretations of sugar skulls come in the form of tattoos. For the purpose of tattoos, people turn to Calavera<\/strong> or the image of a sugar skull. This has become one of the most common tattoo choices in the past few decades. We’ll talk more about this in the following paragraphs.<\/p>\n

Sugar Skull and Calavera Tattoos – Design Explained<\/h2>\n
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Image Source: Instagram<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Calavera Skull Design<\/h3>\n

As we mentioned earlier, a Calavera<\/em> tattoo is a tattoo of a sugar skull image. It is one of the most common sugar skulls or the Day of the Dead tattoos.<\/p>\n

The design of a Calavera tattoo is pretty similar to the actual sugar skull. The tattoos are often colorful and generally represent a female type of skull rather than a male. The reason for this lies in the very tradition<\/a> of the Day of the Dead rituals being centered around Spanish female saints and Aztec goddesses.<\/p>\n

A Calavera tattoo is generally characterized by a lot of linework and dots, detailing, heart and flower shapes, and, of course, numerous colors. The flower and heart shapes are often placed in the eye area (or the eye sockets). The tattoos can also feature more Western symbols, like a cross<\/a>, jewels or diamonds<\/a>, stars<\/a>, etc.<\/p>\n

Sugar Skull or Candied Skull Design<\/h3>\n

A sugar or candied skull tattoo is pretty similar to the Calavera tattoo design. It generally features a variety of colors and cheerful symbolism characteristic of the Day of the Dead. The skull design is focused on the linework which is more intricate than that of Calavera tattoos.<\/p>\n

However, unlike Calavera tattoos which are more like memorials, sugar skull tattoos are just decorated skull designs. That is why they can feature several different symbolisms, like heart- or flower-shaped eyes sockets, or butterfly nose and eyebrows. The tattoos often feature different patterns, swirly line work, a lot of lacy overlays, and dotting.<\/p>\n

Sugar skull tattoos are unique because they often feature lines or words of inspiration, in line with the Day of the Dead symbolism. The words like ‘Forever’, ‘Hope’, or even names of deceased ones can appear in sugar skull tattoo designs.<\/p>\n

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Image Source: Instagram<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Decorations and Ornaments In Sugar Skull Tattoo Designs<\/h3>\n

The majority of sugar skull tattoos feature decorations and ornaments to honor or symbolize the Day of the Dead celebration. Such traditional decorations include;<\/p>\n