The Day of the Dead is an extremely important holiday and a symbol of Mexican culture. As we travel to Mexico to experience the festivities, join us to discover the traditions and rituals that surround the meaning of this day.

Our first stop in Mexico was the festive and cultural hub that is Xcaret Park. Ericka Jasso, head makeup artist, was there to illuminate on the symbolic makeup that is worn on Dia de los Muertos, and to answer all the questions we were dying to ask.

Why is only one half of the face painted?

The bare side is to symbolize your life, and the painted side is decorated in skull-like makeup to symbolize the death of your heart for this day. This day is for more than just death, it is a celebration of life, death, and love, which are all represented in the face makeup. The skull design itself isn’t realistic of your actual skeleton, it’s colorful and embellished to be more festive. (But I wish my real skeleton had flowers for eyes)

After getting an artistic face paint, we headed to Oaxaca to take part in the giant celebration. There were painted faces everywhere, long braids, people dancing in the streets, music all around, candles, and skulls everywhere. Seems pretty lively for a death celebration.

Why all the skulls?

Skull imagery is everywhere, from face paint to dolls, to food. But it’s not about trying to be scary. The skulls are everywhere actually to remind us to not be afraid of death. Even children have no fear of the otherwise spooky decorations because they understand the traditions. Skulls are worn to overcome the fear of death and internalize the idea of mortality. We’re dead serious.

The Festivities

Our deceased loved ones are no longer in their bodies, as they’ve passed on, but their spirits come back to visit on this day, so the family provides offerings. Everything begins in the home, where families create altars with flowers, incense, offerings and skull decorations, some with names on them. The whole family comes together to celebrate and prepare the favorite food of the deceased to honor them and remember who they were when they were alive. To further honor the dead, Mexican people create altars on the gravesites as well, adorned with flowers and candles.

The Day of the Dead is a beautiful tradition that turns our fear of death into a cause for celebration. Filled with tradition, love, and gorgeous makeup, this day is never forgotten.

Watch more of our time in Mexico celebrating el Dia de Los Muertos on Latina.com

http://www.latina.com/beauty/makeup/sacred-beauty-dia-de-los-muertos

We’re planning a Day of The Dead Tour to Oaxaca in 2019, and we bet you’re dying to go.  Click here to get more information and be the first to know when we start taking applications. 

( Painted by Xcaret Park. Ericka Jasso, head makeup artist)

( The streets of Oaxaca before the Celebrations)

( Tourist with Face Painting)

(The Beauty of the Sugar Skull and Flower Crowns)

( Children embrace the skull mask, as a symbol of life and death)

(Dancers sharing their rituals as they parade down the streets of Oaxaca in full face paint)

(Grave yard Set-up for deceased loved ones)

( Tourists flock from all over the world to be part of Dia De Los Muertos)

Images by #BeautyTraveler Stephanie Flor