Calavera Tribute to José Guadalupe Posada A calavera ( Spanish for "skull" ) is an artistic or symbolic representation of a human skull or skeleton most famously associated with the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and All Souls' Day. Etymology: Sugar Skulls (Calaveras de azúcar or alfeñiques): Edible, brightly decorated skulls made from sugar paste, often placed on family altars (ofrendas) or given as gifts to children. Artistic and Satirical Skulls: Detailed skeleton and skull drawings, prints, and figurines that represent people from all walks of life. La Catrina: The famous "Dapper Skull" created by Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, portraying an skeleton in an upscale European hat to mock social pretension and remind people that death comes for everyone equally. Literary Calaveras (Calaveras literarias): Playful, satirical poems written for the Day of the Dead that playfully imagine friends, family, or public figures as if they had already passed away. Colloquial Meaning: In everyday Mexican Spanish, the word can also describe a reckless person, daredevil, or party animal ("es un calavera").