#dia-de-los-muertos

#dia-de-los-muertos

I lost my Dad suddenly this year. During the intermission of Wicked on Broadway, I saw his name pop up on my phone. "Hey Daddy, I'm at a play right now --" His sister-in-law stopped me before I could finish. "I have some really bad news," she said. "Your Dad died." A relative who recently got into painting sent me a lifelike painting of my Dad and it sits on my mantle.

With Day Of The Dead or Día de los Muertos right around the corner, this LEGO Ideas build captures the haunting beauty of the dead-inspired art that you'd find all across Mexico and other Latin American countries that celebrate the festival honoring the people who have crossed into another realm. The La Catrina is a famous skeletal figure, originally a satirical etching by José Guadalupe Posada that became a national symbol for Día de los Muertos.

The Day of the Dead originated in Mexico and is celebrated around the world, beginning on the last days of October and concluding in early November, contrary to the singular "day" implied by its name. While some recognize this celebration as a time of playful skeletons, colorful papel picados ("perforated paper"), and candlelit graveyards, it has been observed in some form throughout Mexico for over 3000 years,

Every year, Mattel releases dolls in honor of the Mexican holiday that celebrates and pays homage to departed loved ones. This year's Ken doll, designed by Ari Sarinana, wears a Jalisco-style charro outfit featuring a sombrero and gold-accented vest and pants. The Barbie doll, designed by Lynda Kyaw, is dressed in a three tier gown adorned with cempasúchil flowers. The three-tier dress resembles the three levels that are placed on the altars made for Día de los Muertos.