Day of the Dead Skull Tattoos History:
The symbol of the skull has been an integral part of the Day of the Dead, since it originated during the Aztec period. The Aztecs kept their enemies skulls as a sign of victory. The skull of a friend or loved one was preserved, and used during the festival, to symbolize their presence, for it was believed that the dead would visit the living on that day. The practice of keeping actual human skulls, died out with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors. But the skull plays a major role in the festival, albeit through representation.
Calacas or wooden skulls are worn by revelers, who dance as part of the celebrations. A staple and favorite altar offering is the sugar skull. A paste of sugar, meringue powder and water, is mixed and put in a skull mold, to form a white hard skull. Icing, food colorings, and personal effects like flowers and hats, are used to decorate the skull. Space is left on the forehead to inscribe the name of the dead person. A relative or friend of the deceased can eat the skull. This tradition isn't morbid, rather it is a powerful stance against death itself. It symbolizes that death is merely a transition from one life into another.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/day-of-the-dead-skull-tattoos.html
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