Among the tamales, the pumpkin candies, the cempazúchil flowers and the mole with rice, a small, white figure decorated colorfully calls our attention.  Its sweet aroma incites gluttony; the decorations that cover its head bring thoughts of celebration; and those sequins eyes glow with a tone that is both flirtatious and mocking.  These are the calaveritas, the sweetest and most popular of all the Day of the Dead offerings.

 These mischievous characters that appear only in November are as old as they look, and they form part of the mysterious ritual between Mexicans and death, many times serving as a symbol of their friendship with death.

 The ancient Mexicans, the Mexicas, praised their gods in very different ways: through sacrifices, prayers, dances or parties.  Huitzilpochtli, the god of war and sun, was also linked to death.  Aside from offering him sacrifices, on sacred holidays, the Mexicas made amaranth figures for him.  These remained on altars, and during one of the rituals, the families would share it, eating it solemnly. 

Today’s custom of eating the sweet calaveras is perhaps a direct descendent of the amaranth custom.  Both rituals serve as a symbol of eating death, making it one’s own and recognizing its permanent closeness in our lives.  The purpose of this ancestral offering was the communion between the Mexicas and their gods – a way of showing respect and keeping them happy.

Today, the calaveritas are no longer made only of sugar; there are also chocolate and amaranth calaveras.  But they are still always decorated with colorful sugar flowers and with those sequins, mischievous, mocking eyes.

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