Whether made of wood, clay, or even candy, Day of the Dead skeleton figures, called calacas, share one common trait: They’re having fun. The reason for the whimsical portrayal of death is a holdover from the Aztec influence on Mexican culture. According to traditional beliefs, the dead don’t want to be remembered with sadness, but rather with the joy they brought to the world when they were alive. Today is the height of the three-day celebration, which begins with All Saints Eve on October 31, continues with All Saints Day (today), and ends with All Souls Day on November 2.
Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
International Museum Day
-
Who s wearing such cute hats?
-
Crown Fountain by Jume Plensa at Millennium Park in Chicago
-
Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
-
It s harvest time on World Food Day
-
To Roswell, and beyond!
-
Necropolis of Dargavs
-
Welcome to California
-
Solar Impulse 2 in Honolulu
-
In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
-
Everyone s watching the Perseids
-
Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
-
Mysterious prairie mounds abound
-
National Park Service Founders Day
-
World Sea Turtle Day
-
Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
-
The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
-
The Roaches ridge in the Peak District, England
-
Falling for Rioja
-
National Find a Rainbow Day
-
Overlooking the Douro
-
Indigenous Peoples Day
-
Shark Awareness Day
-
Poinsettia Day
-
Happy Independence Day!
-
International Day of the Tropics
-
Invisible no longer
-
Bournemouth beach huts
-
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
-
An enduring vision
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

