Believers attribute the worship of a death goddess, La catrina, to the Aztecs, who asserted that she protected their departed loved ones and assisted them in transitioning to the next stages. The Mexican culture deeply embeds the tradition of honoring and celebrating the dead.
The term Catrina became more popular when Diego Rivera depicted him in his painting Sueao de una tarde mailye in the Alameda Central. It shows the Catrina, standing in the foreground, dressed in a feathered hat, a boa and a beautiful dress. She holds the hand of Diego Rivera.
Symbolizes the way Mexican people see death and the afterlife. La Catrina symbolizes the Mexican people’s decision to honor and celebrate the lives of those they’ve lost, instead of focusing on their absence. It’s a different way of interpreting the cycle of life.
Artisans currently fashion Catrinas from two- and three-dimensional materials. These include drawings, prints, paintings, and paper-mâché sculptures, Oaxacan wood carvings, polychromed clay figures, and barro negro black clay pottery. Catrina is often paired with a male dandy skeleton, known as a Catrín.
“Catrin” and “Catrina” have become popular costumes during Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and elsewhere. They typically feature calavera (skull) make-up. The male counterpart to the Catrina, wears the same skull makeup and black clothes, often a formal suit with a top hat or a mariachi costume. A cane might also be part of the costume. Catrinas is dressed in black, white, or purple.
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