Sugar Skull Candy

Sugar skull candy is known for being the candy of choice on el Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This is a Mexican traditional festival where relatives of dead loved ones roam the streets and decorate their graves with candy and other treats.

Origin of sugar skulls

The tradition of sugar skulls emerged as a result of Mexico's economic situation in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During that time, Mexico had little money, so it was unable to buy decorations for the elaborate festivals that were common in Europe at the time. Mexico did have quite a bit of sugar on hand, however, so they quickly learned to make artwork using this abundant resource. Mexico is in better economic shape today, but the sugar skull traditional persists.

Different types of sugar skulls

Festival participants both make and buy many different kinds of sugar skulls during the festival. People participate this five-day long festival and purchase these and other types of sweet treats to put on loved one's graves. Sugar skulls are created from several different types of candy. The most popular type of skulls placed on graves is the small, hard sugar skull that is painted with frosting and little bits of foil. Larger sugar skulls are generally made to break apart and eat during the festival. Some people make sugar skulls out of chocolate and decorate them with hard candies. Others are coated with sesame seeds and nuts. There are many different versions of the sugar skull and different people like different types.

Sugar skulls are a unique and interesting cultural phenomenon that arose out of economic necessity, but has transformed into a cultural tradition in its own right.