Where did the name Catrina originate from?

Catrina is a Scottish and Irish variant of the name Katherine, which is of Greek origin.

What is the origin of Catrina?

The original La Catrina was created by Mexican Illustrator, Jose Guadalupe Posada as part of his series of satirical lithographs that addressed political and societal issues and were published for the masses in the Mexican press.

What does Catrina stand for?

catrina (plural catrinas) An elegantly dressed skeleton figure; used as a symbol of the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, celebration.

What is a Catrina in Mexican culture?

La Catrina is a female calaca (skeleton) or calavera (skull), that is usually dressed up in fancy attire. Her striking image is one of the most recognizable Day of the Dead representations.

Who gave the name to La Catrina?

La Catrina was originally created by Jose Guadalupe Posada and later named and painted dressed up by Diego Rivera in one of his murals. It became an iconic figure in Mexican culture representing death and the way Mexicans face it.

The True Origins Of La Catrina | Dia de los Muertos

Who is Katarina Day of the Dead?

One of the strongest and most recognizable symbols of The Day of the Dead celebrations is the tall female skeleton wearing a fancy hat with feathers. You have surely seen her in various contexts because the striking unique makeup has become very trendy in the last years.

Who is Katrina in Mexico?

La Calavera Catrina or Catrina La Calavera Garbancera ('Dapper Skeleton', 'Elegant Skull') is a 1910–1913 zinc etching by the Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada. La Catrina has become an icon of the Mexican Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Who is Lady of the dead?

Lady of the Dead is an homage to the FRIAS heritage and family and we refer to her as Catrina. Catrina is our interpretation of Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos (October 31-November 2), and she is one alluring and sexy Lady.

What are the Mexican skeletons called?

A calaca (Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈlaka], a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for skeleton) is a figure of a skull or skeleton (usually human) commonly used for decoration during the Mexican Day of the Dead festival, although they are made all year round.

What does La Catrina look like?

Hollowed-out eyes, stitched mouths, and intricate flower wreaths are some of the distinctive markings of La Calavera Catrina—known more simply as La Catrina, “the elegant skull”—a cultural makeup worn during Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which begins November 1.

Where did La Santa Muerte originate?

The Santa Muerte, also known as Santisima Muerte, is the beloved goddess of death whose origins date back to the pre-Hispanic period of Mexico.

What was the original purpose of La Catrina before she became a symbol of Día de los Muertos?

Posada's original sketch of La Calavera Catrina was made around 1910. It was designed to be a satire referencing the high-society European obsessions of leader Porfirio Diaz, whose corruption led to the Mexican Revolution of 1911, and the toppling of his regime.

What is the difference between La Catrina and Halloween?

Contrary to what some may think, Dia de los Muertos, known in English as Day of the Dead, is not the Mexican Halloween. It is a Mexican holiday celebrated by people from Latin American countries and the United States to honor their ancestors. La Catrina is an internationally recognized symbol for the Day of the Dead.

What is Catrina Day of the Dead?

One of the most common symbols you'll see around Día de los Muertos is La Catrina, a statement-making skeletal figure (a bit reminiscent of sugar skulls) adorned in a fine dress and hat. According to urban legend, La Catrina's roots come from Aztec death goddess Mictecacihuatl.

What is the goddess of death's name?

Hel, in Norse mythology, originally the name of the world of the dead; it later came to mean the goddess of death. Hel was one of the children of the trickster god Loki, and her kingdom was said to lie downward and northward.

Is the Grim Reaper and Santa Muerte the same?

The two most common objects that Santa Muerte holds in her hands are a globe and a scythe. Her scythe reflects her origins as the Grim Reaper (la Parca of medieval Spain), and can represent the moment of death, when it is said to cut a silver thread.

Are there any Mexican saints?

Virgin of Guadalupe (The Virgin of Guadalupe)

By far Mexico's most venerated saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe (the Virgin Mary) appeared to the peasant farmer Juan Diego and directed him to tell the archbishop to build her a temple in what is now the north of Mexico City.

Where are Catrinas made in Mexico?

Capula is a small town only about 20 minutes by car from the city of Morelia, Michoacán. The road is good and you will arrive very fast.

What was the original name of La Catrina?

The original La Catrina was created in 1910 around the start of the Mexican Revolution by José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican printmaker who created political cartoons. "The original name was La Calavera Gabancera," said Bertha Rodriguez, chief operating officer at San Francisco's Mexican Museum.

Why do Mexicans like skeletons so much?

Skulls and skeletons are still seen widely in Mexican folk art, especially at the time of the Day of the Dead. Realize that they are not about death but rather about the duality of life and death, a statement that death is an integral part of life. Because the skeletons are never dead!

What is Day of the Dead called in Mexico?

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over Latin America with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). Learn how the Day of the Dead started and the traditions that make it unique.

Why do they decorate the graves in the cemetery?

In the Cemeteries

In ancient times, people were buried close to their family homes and there was no need to have separate grave decorations and home altars, these were together in one place. Now that the dead are buried away from their homes, graves are decorated with the idea that the dead return there first.

Is Day of the Dead costume offensive?

Day of the Dead is definitely not "the Mexican Halloween," as some put it, per USA Today. And though it may have been acceptable years ago to wear a Catrina or similar outfit for trick-or-treating, it's thought to be offensive today.

What does Mexico celebrate instead of Halloween?

Halloween (Día de las Brujas) is hailed mainly as a children's festivity in Mexico on October 31. It is often overshadowed by the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations on All Saints' Day and All Soul's Day.