This quirky calavera (skull, in this case about six inches high) is made of white chocolate with applied chocolate decorations dyed in various colors.
Every year, Mexico Cooks! heads for Pátzcuaro to see what's new and eye-catching in the world of alfeñiques (molded sugar trinkets for the Día de los Muertos–Day of the Dead). Skulls, caskets, skeletons, and miniature food are found almost everywhere in Mexico during this season. Some other sugar figures, made of azúcar glass (confectioner's sugar) as well as granulated sugar, are traditional just in Michoacán. This year, white chocolate was the new kid on the block.
More traditional sugar skulls are made in wooden molds, dried, and then hand-decorated. The eyes of these calaveras are sequins; the rest of the decor is stiff colored icing.
The artisan has applied white icing teeth, orange icing eyebrows and nose outline, green sequin eyes, and a blue-and-green patterned topknot.
Each of these one-inch calaveras has a name tag. Pick the skull that matches your best friend, your romantic interest, or a relative. Click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view–then see if you can find your own name!
These six-inch high molded sugar hearts bear sweet sentiments: Para Mi Corazón (For My Sweetheart) and Con Amor (With Love).
You can find more Mexico Cooks! photos and other information related to the Day of the Dead here, here, and here.
Tiny sugar representations of your dearly departed's favorite foods: pan dulce (sweet bread), enchiladas, tacos, and tostadas. These little plates measure about three inches in diameter.
Six-inch-high sugary crosses.
In the open casket, the calaca (skeleton) partakes of his favorite drink. Click on the photo to read the placard on the grave: "De tontos y panzones están llenos los panteones." ('Cemeteries are full of fools and gluttons.')
Laid out on an old painted wood table, this sheet of papel picado (cut tissue paper) depicts a skull and an ofrenda (Day of the Dead personal altar in honor of the deceased).
Former Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari in the form of a murcielago (bat). Sin comentario (no comment), but this little candy made Mexico Cooks! laugh out loud.
Traditional sweet sugar gallinas (hens).
Coronas (funeral wreaths) with their motto Descansa en paz (rest in peace).
Sra. Gallina Roja (Mrs. Red Hen), made of azúcar glass (confectioner's sugar) rather than granulated sugar, sits on her nest with her huevos y polluelos (eggs and chicks).
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)–this time in white chocolate, dyed in multi-colors–watches over all of us, the living and the dead.
Mexico Cooks! will have more Día de los Muertos traditions for you in the weeks to come. The annual holiday is just too big and colorful for just one week's article.
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