Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is celebrated worldwide with vivid colours, striking skull face paint and makeup, and lively festivities.
Yet beneath these dazzling visuals lies a sacred ritual deeply rooted in indigenous wisdom, family remembrance, and cultural resilience.
As cultural historian, Sasha Thompson, explains: “Día de los Muertos is not just a festival; it’s a sacred ritual that honours our ancestors and the cycle of life and death.
“The symbols, colours, and ceremonies are deeply embedded in Indigenous beliefs that have endured centuries of colonization.”
This day is a profound connection between the living and the departed when memory is honoured and identity is celebrated.
For many Mexican makeup artists, the iconic skull face paint is far more than a costume; it is a living canvas of family stories and ancestral pride.
Jessica May, a UK-based makeup artist, says: “When I recreate the look, I aim to tell a story of family, memory, and resilience through Día de los Muertos face paint. It’s a living art form passed down through generations, not just an aesthetic trend.
“When I create it, I want people to see my respect for the culture.” The makeup becomes a visual language, expressing love, loss, and the sacred bonds that connect generations.
However, this rich cultural expression carries a profound responsibility that calls for respect, understanding, and acknowledgement.
Sasha says: “Cultural appropriation isn’t just about who wears what; it’s about power, history, and respect. For centuries, Mexican culture has been marginalized and misunderstood. When our sacred traditions become costumes, it is hurtful and dismissive.”
She urges a deeper engagement, encouraging people to learn the history and meaning behind these symbols before embracing them.
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For many, seeing such a profound symbol reduced to a Halloween costume is a painful erasure of centuries of reverence.
Sofia Mora, a 24-year-old Mexican-American woman, reflects on her connection to the tradition: “Growing up, Día de los Muertos connected me to my roots and family. The makeup, the altars, the rituals, they taught me about identity and respect.”
Sofia welcomes the global recognition of this beautiful tradition but cautions, “It’s exciting to see our culture gain recognition, but this must come with responsibility and a willingness to learn.”
At the heart of this celebration are the voices of indigenous elders, the guardians of ancestral knowledge.
Sofia recalls: “I was taught that our ancestors showed us how to honour life and death with humility and ceremony. These traditions are gifts from our past and must be treated with sacred care. The skull face is not a costume to be worn lightly; it is a sacred mask that carries the voices of those who have passed. When shared, it must be with heart and understanding.”
In a world where cultural symbols can easily be reduced to fleeting trends or costumes, these voices invite us to pause and reflect.
To honour Día de los Muertos is to embrace the beauty of its imagery and the profound cultural heritage and ancestral reverence it embodies.
When approached with respect and curiosity, Día de los Muertos becomes a bridge, a connection across time, space, and identity.
It is a powerful reminder that culture is living history, carried forward through stories, symbols, and shared remembrance.
As we celebrate and appreciate, let us do so with open hearts, ready to learn, honour, and respect the depth behind the colours and designs. This tradition can only live on fully and authentically, enriching lives and nurturing respect worldwide.
