User:KimmySierra1995/Calavera

Article Final Draft
Lead: The Calavera is one of the main symbols when talking about the day of The Dead. One type of calavera, The Sugar Skull, is a very important part of the altar(ofrenda). Sugar Skulls are a type of candy mostly made of Sugar for eating. There are also Chocolate Sugar Skulls for little kids if they don't like the actual Sugar Skulls to enjoy. Article body : There is History/origin behind the Sugar Skulls. A Skull is a predominant figure in the Mesoamerican societies and the cultures in various aspects and depictions. The first Sugar Skulls Sugar art dates back to the 17th century when Italian missionaries visited the new World. Mexicans during that time were very poor and had very little money, but they learned from the catholic friars how to make the decorations out of an ingredient that they have plenty of and that is Sugar.They made the molds into clay and the sugar skull decorations were used to adorn the church, gravestones,and the ofrendas for the Day of the dead celebrations. One of the depictions was a wooden rack called the tzompantli in which the skulls of the war prisoners or the human sacrifices were shown. Mictlantecuhtli, the God of the Underworld during the prehistoric times in Mesoamerica, is the inspiration behind the Sugar Skull making. The Sugar Skulls are made of a paste call alfenique, which is a mixture of hot water, sugar, and lemon, among the other ingredients, that creates moldable akin to caramel. Also, there are some Sugar Skulls that are decorated with non-edible sequins, rhinestones, and other items that should not be eaten.

References :https://dayofthedead.holiday/sugar-skull/the-meaning-and-importance-of-sugar-skulls
https://xyuandbeyond.com/calaveras/

https://www.newberry.org/satirical-calaveras-and-day-dead

https://www.thespruceeats.com/sugar-skull-history-2342805#:~:text=During%20the%20celebration%20of%20Dia%20de%20Los%20Muertos,mixture%20that%20is%20pressed%20into%20special%20skull%20molds.