Contents
Candy Skull Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas
Slowly the trend of sugar skulls caught up with the indigenous people, and this is how it was incorporated in different festivals. Due to the attachment that the population of the Americas has to their culture they soon started having the skulls inked on them.
125+ Best Sugar Skull Tattoo – Designs and Meaning (2019)
Due to the nature of the Meso-American history it is unclear when sugar skulls were used to mark the famous Die de Los Muertos festivities. However, reliable historical evidence indicates that the sugar skull was first brought to the Americas in the 17th Century by Italian missionaries.
The Italians had been using this skull in Easter celebrations to mark the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Contents:
- Meaning of these tattoos
- Placement ideas
- Types of Sugar Skull Tattoos
The introduction of these skulls by the missionaries was meant to Christianize the indigenous rituals since the missionaries knew it would be close to impossible to get the locals to abandon them.
Slowly the trend of sugar skulls caught up with the indigenous people, and this is how it was incorporated in different festivals. Due to the attachment that the population of the Americas has to their culture they soon started having the skulls inked on them.
Meaning of these tattoos
These tattoos have different meanings to different people and as the Mexican tradition continues to spread across the world so do these tattoos. The skull is mostly associated with death, and so many people will get this tattoo to represent something related to death.
Sugar skull symbols are used to represent ancestors. According to tradition, the size of the tattoo represents the age of the deceased. Big tattoos are used to represent adults that one would like to remember while small ones are used for representing children.
Each tattoo pattern and design has its meaning, and so one can choose to get one that portrays the meaning that they wish to pass along. A tattoo with a flower decorating the skulls eye socket represents life. Some people have this tattoo to show that they believe in life after death.
On the other hand, a tattoo with webs represents death. A more interesting tattoo is one with firing candles. Besides from this tattoo looking incredible it represents reminiscence, and it can have a deeper meaning depending on the person getting it and their beliefs.
Besides from the various meanings that these symbols have to different people they have one universal meaning especially to Mexicans. Mexicans generally love tattooing, and they have different types, but this tattoo is probably the one that helps them associate themselves with their culture.
This symbol can be used to show that one is proud to be Mexican or is proud to associate himself with the Mexican tradition or culture.
Placement ideas
When choosing a tattoo placement location, there are several factors that you have to take into consideration besides the type of tattoo. For example, you have to consider the spots on the body allowable for your career and your attractive attributes that you can improve with this tattoo.
For Sugar Skull tattoos, here are a few placement ideas.
This is a very classy place tattoos especially for men. Due to the nature of the sugar skull you can place it almost anyhow you like on the back, and it will still look fabulous. You can have this tattoo between shoulders, across the back or even in the middle of the back.
Anybody can look good in a shoulder tattoo and so it would be a great idea to place your sugar skull here. The best thing with shoulders is that you can control how much you expose it.
This is the most attractive place to have a sugar skull tattoo for men. Even ladies can look great if they get a creative artist to tattoo them. In the chest, there is more than enough space, and so you can get even huge tattoos.
If you prefer to get small sugar skulls then the wrist is probably one of the places that you should consider placing yours. Due to the small area around the wrist the tattoo will appear more outstanding despite being small.
Types of Sugar Skull Tattoos
When going out to get a tattoo most people are probably thinking of getting the most colorful tattoos. Although colors make tattoos look great one can still get a good black and white sugar skull tattoo and still look outstanding.
The trend of black and white sugar skull is slowly catching up, and this type of tattoo is set to become one of the most popular types in the near future.
As mentioned above color is the key for any tattoo to look beautiful. This is perhaps what led to the development of the super colorful sugar skull. This type of tattoo combines many colors with most of them being bright colors.
However, when getting this kind of tattoo, you should be careful with your choice of colors as some may look awkward when combined.
In this type the tattoos come in pairs, and they are inked close to one another. The two tattoos can be similar r they can be slightly different. In any case, they will still look great when a good artist draws them. To complement their appearance the tattoos have flowers or webs drawn around them.
Flowers can be used to spice up any tattoo, and the sugar skull is no exception. In this variation the skull can be drawn with a flower background, flowers can be drawn around it or placed above or below the tattoo.
No matter, how you choose to have your flower and skull tattoo it will look god if you chose your flowers and their color carefully.
The hyper realistic sugar skull takes creativity to a whole new level. If this type of tattoo is drawn by a talented and experienced artist, it looks very realistic, and one can hardly tell that it is a tattoo. This tattoo can also be drawn in 3D to make it look even more realistic.
This type of tattoo combines different images with the sugar skull to give a unique and more appealing look. The most common image that is often combined with this tattoo an owl image. There are many ways to combine the images and so creativity will play a fundamental role in getting the tattoo right.
As this tattoo continues to spread in popularity across the globe, it would be a good idea to get one. However, to get a perfect one the most important thing will be to get a creative and talented tattoo artist.
Candy Skull Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas
When people think of the skull, it’s closely associated with death and dying. The negative imagery has been used throughout time. However, the skull has alternative meanings in other cultures where the dead are more revered than what we do in the States. The candy skull (also known as the sugar skull) are an integral part of Latin and Mexican culture. The Day of the Dead or Dia de Muertos, is the day after Halloween. This is the day the dead are honored. The skulls happen to be representations of the dead family and friends that have come back on this special day so people can show their reverence. This day coincides with All Saint’s Day, which is a Catholic holiday. All Saint’s Day was an inspiration to the Day of the Dead where traditions were combined to honor the dead.
More specifically, people celebrating this day believe that at midnight on October 31st, the gates of heaven open wide and all the spirits of the children that have passed are able to reunite with family members for the next 24 hours. The very next day, on November 2nd, the adults are able to join the party.
Because the natives that celebrate this special day believe these festivities will provide them good luck and protection, they spend a great deal of their money preparing for the day. In most villages, the locals will build altars (ofrendas) in their homes for the visiting spirits. On these altars the people will put food, sweets, soda and toys for the children that visit. The next day they will add shots of booze and cigarettes for the adult spirits that will come. The idea is to have plenty of refreshments for these souls as they have traveled far to visit their relatives. They’ll top off the altar with candy skulls as decoration.
The skulls in the Day of the Dead festival symbolize ancestors and family members that has died and have returned on this special day. The candy skull (also known as the Calavera) is created from sugar and can be eaten. They are also made of clay and beautifully decorated. You’ll notice the decorations on the candy skulls are vibrant and colorful. They represent the vibrant lives of ancestors passed.
On November 2nd, the people celebrating the Day of the Dead go to the cemetery to celebrate their lost loved ones. They use this time to leave flowers, clean up the grave site, play cards and reminisce about their loved ones.
We also celebrate this holiday in the States. This could be for many reasons. One school if thought is that because we don’t have a day specifically for honoring our dead like Hispanic cultures do. Others think it’s because of our captivation with magic. Finally, some think it’s just another day to party.
The candy skull tattoo or sugar skull tattoo is a way to honor this day forever. The meaning behind this tattoo is obviously closely related to the Day of the Dead. As in most styles of tattoos, you can have them inked in different ways. The candy skull has been tattooed as being a skull with bright colors and flowers around or on it.
In addition, we must also understand the skull tattoo and what it means to the ancient cultures. In many of these places, the skull can symbolize a celebration of life or change. Depending on the religion of the person wearing the tattoo, it can mean many different things. For Christians, the skull can stand for what remains when we pass. In Kabbalah, it can mean a celebration and a rebirth of sorts. With candy skulls, the meaning is always a positive one in that it is a celebration of the experiences had and your life in summation.
We’ve seen also seen this tattoo in the form of a girl with her face painted like the candy skull. The woman can be dressed in gypsy garb with intricate designs on her scarf and jewelry. The idea that many gather from these tattoos is the contrast between good and evil. The living and the dead and the close relationship between the two.
These tattoos can also be inked in different ways. Realistic candy skull tattoos are a popular choice among people who wear this tattoo. The life in the eyes or the wear and tear of the skull can really bring the tattoo to life and truly give one the feeling this skull once, or still does, have life.
We also see this tattoo done in new school tendencies where the skulls or girls with candy skull paint on their face represent something more cartoonish. This style coincides with the meaning of the candy skull because it gives it a fun and less threatening feeling. Keep in mind that with the candy skull, people have them or tattoo them as a sign of a celebration of life. This is a happy moment so why not have some fun with the tattoo.
Then in other cases, the tattoo artist can get very creative and make the skull out of flowers or candy. Anything that symbolizes the Day of the Dead can be used as a piece of the puzzle that creates this image.
One more way we’ve seen the candy skull portrayed is through geometric shapes. These end up being beautiful tattoos because it gives the skull a very light and artsy feel. Your artist should be able to tell you what they are comfortable tattooing so if you have a certain design in mind, make sure you let your artist know before you get started.
We hope that you learned something about the candy skull (sugar skull) and have a better idea of the origins of this beautiful design. We love the thinking behind the Day of the Dead. To honor our loved ones in the afterlife as to never forget about them.
Take a look at the pictures below to help you get an idea of the candy skull tattoo you’d like to have tattooed on your body. We recommend taking your time in the research process because this tattoo will stay on you forever. If you’re still having trouble deciding on a shop or artist and want a little help, reach out to us. We offer recommendations to shops and artists based on what you’re looking for.
Related Posts:
- Always Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas
- 13 Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas
- Three Cross Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas
- 8 Ball Tattoo Meaning, Designs and Ideas