The Importance of the Mexican La Catrina
by Tara A. Spears
La Catrina is an important symbol in the celebration of Day of the Dead on Novembere 1 and 2. This yearly remembrance is rich in rituals and expresses the unique and exceptional relationship that Mexicans have with death and with their ancestors. It’s a happy celebration meant to honor the dearly departed loved ones and to appreciate life while one is still part of the living.
According to art museum curator, David de La Torres, “It’s not just artist Posada and his work in 1910. There are layers of history. The image and the woman in death go back to the ancient Aztec period. Posada took his inspiration from Mictecacihuatl, goddess of death and Lady of Mictlan, the underworld.”
Sometimes Catrina is cheerful, dressed in an elaborate way, eager to have fun and even flirtatious and seductive with mortals. In other art representations, we find “the purititos/ bones,” ready to take us when we least expect it. Most commonly La Catrina is the joyful representation of death; she is an elegant Mexican skull that mocks death yet respectfully plays with death. The dual identity of La Catrina reminds us that life is here, now and forever.
La Catrina is an important facet of Mexican culture because it showcases the attitude towards dead. La Catrina is about living your true self and she’s also about not pretending to be someone you are not. No matter what you look like and where you come from you will end up a skeleton in the end with everyone else enjoy yourself now. Mexico is very unique in its view of this fact of life and prefers to take it good-humoredly and passionately.
In Jaltemba Bay, there are several days of activities planned beginning 28 October through November 2. La Catrina will be an important part of the festivities!