Calacas are figurines of skeletons mostly used as decorations during the celebration of the Day of the Dead, November 1st and 2. The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a unique mix of Prehispanic and Catholic traditions. Calacas are generally joyous statuettes in festive clothing, playing musical instruments, dancing, singing and enjoying pretty much the same stuff as we do. This celebrates the Mexican believe that not one dead soul likes to be thought of with sadness and that death should be a joyous occasion. The figurines could be made of wood, clay, papier-m?ch? as in the photo or more nourishing stuff as chocolate or sugar.
It is a honor and a kind of good luck spell if somebody is given a calaca with her/his name on it. The figurines in the photo were given to me a wile back featuring a friend and me. The figurines are about 2 inches high. The cross looking like a rope ladder is from the original background. I never could find out the symbolic of that rope ladder cross.
The picture was meant to be used as greeting card for both, Halloween and the Day of the Dead. The photo is mostly left as original. The background colors were changed and the frame added in Digital Image Suite.