Calaca

For the component city in the Philippines, see Calaca, Batangas.
A calaca of La Calavera Catrina.

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.

Description

Tracing their origins from Maya civilization Mayan imagery, Calaca's are frequently shown with marigold flowers and foliage. As with other aspects of the Day of the Dead festival, Calaca's are generally depicted as joyous rather than mournful figures. They are often shown wearing festive clothing, dancing, and playing musical instruments to indicate a happy afterlife. This draws on the Mexican belief that no dead soul likes to be thought of sadly, and that death should be a joyous occasion. This goes back to Aztec beliefs, one of the few Calaca to remain after the Spanish conquest.

Calacas used in the festival include carved skull masks worn by revelers, small figures made out of carved wood or fired clay, and sweet treats in the form of skulls or skeletons. Calacas are sometimes made of wood, stone, or even candy.

A popular phrase among Mexicans and those Latinos that personally know someone is "se lo (la) llevó la Calaca" after someone has died, literally meaning "the Calaca took him (her)" or "death took him (her)".

In Guatemala, "Calaca" is understood as "death". The figure of a bare skeleton represents death and implies fear of death. Thus, it is not normally utilized as a joyful image.

Mexican political lithographer José Guadalupe Posada's works inspired the modern interpretations of the calaca.[1]

Calacas are prominently featured as representations of the deceased in the animated films The Book of Life and Coco. In Coco, the main character Miguel is in a race against time to get his family's blessings before he turns into a calaca himself.[2]

Calaca-like figures can be seen in the Tim Burton film Corpse Bride, Neil Gaiman's movie Coraline, video games such as LittleBigPlanet (2008) and Guacamelee! (2013), and the 1998 Tim Schafer computer game Grim Fandango.

In Monster High, Skelita Calaveras is a calaca and is the daughter of Los Esklitos (The Skeletons).

In El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, the villain Santana of the Dead is a calaca and commands various calacas that are in her service.

References

  1. ^ Thelmadatter, Leigh (26 October 2022). "Death comes alive with Calacas, Mexico's skeletal figures". Mexico News Daily. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ Polo, Susana (14 July 2017). "Pixar shares two heartwarming scenes from Coco, its Day of the Dead-inspired feature". Polygon. Retrieved 19 February 2024.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skeletal decorations for Day of the Dead in Mexico.


This article about culture in Mexico is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This religion-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Read other articles:

Sally Starr (TV hostess)

American celebrity television personality (1923–2013) Sally StarrBornAlleen Mae Beller(1923-01-25)January 25, 1923Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.DiedJanuary 27, 2013(2013-01-27) (aged 90)Berlin, New Jersey, U.S.OccupationEntertainerYears active1935–2006 Alleen Mae Beller, also known as Sally Starr (January 25, 1923 – January 27, 2013) was a prominent 1950s and 1960s celebrity television personality. Using a cowgirl persona, she appealed to local TV audiences of several generations...

 

Prathap C. Reddy

Prathap C. ReddyPresiden, Shamat. Pratibha Devisingh Patil Pemberian Padma Vibhushan Award kepada Dr. Pratap Chandra Reddy, 2010LahirPrathap Chandra Reddy1933 (umur 90–91)Aragonda, Kepresidenan Madras, India Britania, (sekarang distrik Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India)AlmamaterStanley Medical College, Chennai Madras Christian College, ChennaiPekerjaanDokter, eksekutif bisnisPenghargaanPadma Vibhushan (2010)Padma Bhushan (1991) Prathap Chandra Reddy (lahir 5 Februari 1933)[1]...

 

Великолепный век

Великолепный вектур. Muhteşem Yüzyıl Жанр историческая драма Создатель Мерал Окай Режиссёры Ягмур Тайлан[tr]Дурул Тайлан[tr]Мерт Байкал[tr]Ягыз Алп Акайдын[tr] Сценаристы Мерал ОкайЙылмаз Шахин В главных ролях Халит ЭргенчМерьем УзерлиВахиде ПерчинОкан ЯлабыкНебахат ЧехреСельм...

Udo Schütz

German entrepreneur (born 1937) This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (September 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Udo Schütz (born 11 January 1937)[1] is a German entrepreneur, who was competing successfully with racing cars in the 1960s, and with yachts in the 1990s. Career The 1967 Targa Florio Porsche 910 #184 of Umberto Maglioli and Schütz in the Porsch...

 

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Broken Hill

Roman Catholic cathedral in Broken Hill, Australia Sacred Heart Cathedral, Broken HillReligionAffiliationRoman Catholic Latin RiteDistrictDiocese of Wilcannia-ForbesEcclesiastical or organizational statusCathedral[1]LeadershipColumba Macbeth-Green OSPPEYear consecrated2 July 1905LocationLocationBroken Hill, AustraliaGeographic coordinates31°57′12″S 141°27′30″E / 31.953317697478543°S 141.45827948681668°E / -31.953317697478543; 141.45827948681668Archi...

 

アプリケーションソフトウェア

「アプリケーション」はこの項目へ転送されています。英語の意味については「wikt:応用」、「wikt:application」をご覧ください。 この記事には複数の問題があります。改善やノートページでの議論にご協力ください。 出典がまったく示されていないか不十分です。内容に関する文献や情報源が必要です。（2018年4月） 古い情報を更新する必要があります。（2021年3月）出...

Hizbut Tahrir

Hizbut Tahrirحزب التحرير Ketua umumSyeikh Atha' Abu Rasytah [1]PendiriSyekh Taqiyuddin An NabhaniDibentuk1953 di Yerusalem Timur, Tepi Barat, YordaniaDibubarkan2017 (Indonesia)Kantor pusatBeirut, LebanonKeanggotaanJutaan pengikut (perkiraan)[2]IdeologiPan Islamisme[3][4]Islamisme[3][4]Supremasisme Muslim[5][6][7][8][9]Khalifisme[10][11][12][13]Salafisme[14]...

 

كوريل فوتو بانت

هذه المقالة يتيمة إذ تصل إليها مقالات أخرى قليلة جدًا. فضلًا، ساعد بإضافة وصلة إليها في مقالات متعلقة بها. (أبريل 2016) كوريل فوتو بانتمعلومات عامةنوع محرر رسوميات نقطية نظام التشغيل مايكروسوفت ويندوزماك أو إس النموذج المصدري حقوق التأليف والنشر محفوظة المطورون شركة كوريل م...

 

Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area

State Wildlife Area in Burnett County, Wisconsin IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)Location in WisconsinShow map of WisconsinLocation in United StatesShow map of the United StatesLocationBurnett County, Wisconsin U.S.Nearest citySiren, WisconsinCoordinates45°49′19″N 92°25′50″W / 45.82194°N 92.43056°W / 45.82194; -92.43056Area5,052 acres (20.44 km2)Established1956Governing bodyWisconsin Department of Natural Resources The Amsterdam...

Wallowa County, Oregon

County in Oregon, United States County in OregonWallowa CountyCountyWallowa County Courthouse in EnterpriseLocation within the U.S. state of OregonOregon's location within the U.S.Coordinates: 45°35′N 117°10′W / 45.58°N 117.17°W / 45.58; -117.17Country United StatesState OregonFoundedOctober 14, 1887Named forWallowa RiverSeatEnterpriseLargest cityEnterpriseArea • Total3,152 sq mi (8,160 km2) • Land3,146 sq&#...

 

The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976 film by Clint Eastwood Not to be confused with the Jamaican deejay Josey Wales. The Outlaw Josey WalesTheatrical release posterDirected byClint EastwoodScreenplay by Phil Kaufman Sonia Chernus Based onGone to Texasby Forrest CarterProduced byRobert DaleyStarring Clint Eastwood Chief Dan George Sondra Locke Bill McKinney John Vernon CinematographyBruce SurteesEdited byFerris WebsterMusic byJerry FieldingProductioncompanyThe Malpaso CompanyDistributed byWarner Bros.Release date June 3...

 

Football at the 2023 Pacific Games – Women's tournament

Main article: Football at the 2023 Pacific Games 2023 Pacific Gameswomen's football tournamentTournament detailsHost countrySolomon IslandsCityHoniaraDates17 November–2 DecemberTeams10 (from 1 confederation)Venue(s)2 (in 1 host city)Final positionsChampions Papua New Guinea (6th title)Runners-up FijiThird place New CaledoniaFourth place SamoaTournament statisticsMatches played20Goals scored82 (4.1 per match)Top scorer(s) Ramona Padio(11 goals)← ...

أحمد عبد الرحمن (سياسي)

  لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع أحمد عبد الرحمن (توضيح). أحمد عبد الرحمن معلومات شخصية الميلاد سنة 1943   بيت سوريك  الوفاة 2 ديسمبر 2019 (75–76 سنة)  رام الله  مواطنة دولة فلسطين  عضو في المجلس الوطني الفلسطيني،  والمجلس المركزي الفلسطيني،  والمجلس الثوري لحركة فتح ...

 

Saint-Siméon, Seine-et-Marne

Untuk tempat lain yang bernama sama, lihat Saint-Siméon. Peta infrastruktur dan tata guna lahan di Komune Saint-Siméon.  = Kawasan perkotaan  = Lahan subur  = Padang rumput  = Lahan pertanaman campuran  = Hutan  = Vegetasi perdu  = Lahan basah  = Anak sungai Saint-SiméonNegaraPrancisArondisemenProvinsKantonLa Ferté-GaucherAntarkomunetidak ada pada 2007Pemerintahan • Wali kota (2008-2014) Guy Simon • Populasi1737Kode INSEE/pos...

 

1 Tawarikh 10

1 Tawarikh 10Kitab Tawarikh (Kitab 1 & 2 Tawarikh) lengkap pada Kodeks Leningrad, dibuat tahun 1008.KitabKitab 1 TawarikhKategoriKetuvimBagian Alkitab KristenPerjanjian LamaUrutan dalamKitab Kristen13← pasal 9 pasal 11 → 1 Tawarikh 10 (atau I Tawarikh 10, disingkat 1Taw 10) adalah bagian dari Kitab 1 Tawarikh dalam Alkitab Ibrani dan Perjanjian Lama di Alkitab Kristen. Dalam Alkitab Ibrani termasuk dalam bagian Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים, tulisan).[1][2] Tek...

Capital Region of Denmark

Region of Denmark Not to be confused with The Capital Region (Denmark), Copenhagen metropolitan area, or Øresund Region. Region in DenmarkCapital Region Region Hovedstaden (Danish)Region CountryDenmarkCapitalHillerødLargest cityCopenhagenMunicipalities 29 AlbertslundAllerødBallerupBornholmBrøndbyCopenhagenDragørEgedalFredensborgFrederiksbergFrederikssundFuresøGentofteGladsaxeGlostrupGribskovHalsnæsHelsingørHerlevHillerødHvidovreHøje-TaastrupHørsholmIshøjLyngby-TaarbækRudersd...

 

Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni terlihat dari luar angkasa, Salar de Coipasa terletak di kiri atas gambar Salar de Uyuni atau Salar de Tunupa merupakan dataran garam terluas di dunia. Salar de Uyuni terletak di Departemen Potosi dan Oruro, Bolivia bagian tenggara, dekat puncak Andes, pada ketinggian 3650 m. Sekitar 40.000 tahun yang lalu, gurun ini merupakan bagian dari Danau Michin, danau besar pada masa prasejarah. Ketika mengering, terdapat 2 danau yang tersisa, yakni Danau Poopó dan Uru Uru, serta 2 guru...

 

Hard problem of consciousness

Philosophical concept For other uses, see Hard problem (disambiguation). In the philosophy of mind, the hard problem of consciousness is to explain why and how humans and other organisms have qualia, phenomenal consciousness, or subjective experience.[1][2] It is contrasted with the easy problems of explaining why and how physical systems give a (healthy) human being the ability to discriminate, to integrate information, and to perform behavioral functions such as watching, li...

Aukščiausioji lyga 1968

Aukščiausioji lyga 1968 Competizione A Lyga Sport Calcio Edizione 24ª Luogo  Unione Sovietica RSS Lituana Partecipanti 16 Risultati Vincitore Statyba Panevėžys(2º titolo) Retrocessioni Linų Audiniai PlungėAutoparkas Kaunas Statistiche Miglior marcatore Romas Jokubaitis (18) Incontri disputati 240 Gol segnati 619 (2,58 per incontro) Cronologia della competizione 1967 1969 Manuale L'edizione 1968 dell'Aukščiausioji lyga fu la ventiquattresima come campionato della...

 

吉玉铁路

此條目需要擴充。 (2018年12月4日)请協助改善这篇條目，更進一步的信息可能會在討論頁或扩充请求中找到。请在擴充條目後將此模板移除。 吉玉铁路概覽运营範圍 中国贵州省铜仁市、湖南省湘西土家族苗族自治州服務類型客运专线目前狀況运营中起點站铜仁站、大宗坪线路所技術數據路線等級Ⅰ级铁路路線長度47.7 km（铜玉段）最高速度200 km/h（铜玉段）軌距1,435毫米（�...