Resource: Skull Paper Masks
- Tiz Creel
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Create unique paper skull masks for the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Resource to create craft skull paper masks as a creative tool for play, identity and imagination. The traditionally decorated skulls are perhaps the most iconic symbols of the Day of the Dead. Calaveras (skulls) symbolise death and celebrate life; they are a way to honour the departed. Calaveras translates to "skull" in Spanish and refers to the cultural and artistic representation of skulls or skeletons. The iconic Day of the Dead calaveras honour the departed souls, symbolise death, and celebrate life.
Paper skull masks are wearable objects made from paper or card, used in play, performance and ritual to transform identity.
Materials
Colours, crayons, and markers
String
Scissors
Glue stick
Hole puncher
Masking tape
Common Symbols, Iconography and Elements of Calaveras
Symbols can incorporate unique or personal elements relevant to hobbies, passions, habits, or beliefs. Then, incorporate Day of the Dead elements and ornaments (e.g., marigolds, butterflies, birds, or hearts) to complete your Calavera. Here are the main symbols:
Skull Name Yag
Calaveras are not just generic skulls but are often personalised with names, family symbols, or other marks of identity to honour specific ancestors. Before you start, consider the person or concept you want to honour with your paper skull. Is it a family member, a pet, or a theme? Once you have a theme, sketch your design on the template with a pencil:
Flowers
Marigolds (Cempasúchil) are iconic orange flowers widely used during the Day of the Dead. Their colour and fragrance are believed to help guide spirits back to the world of the living. Other flowers, such as roses, daisies, and lilies, are common motifs designed onto the skulls to represent life and beauty.
Hearts
Eternal love, not just romantic love, but the enduring bond with those who have passed. Hearts and flowers signify love, remembrance, and acknowledgement of the cycles of life and death.
Animals
Represent transformation and the cycle of life. The walls are decorated with tiny representations of animals such as birds, bees, and snakes. Each animal has its symbolic meaning; birds represent freedom or the soul, bees symbolise community, and snakes often represent renewal or rebirth. Forehead Designs | Family names and initials are often shared on decorated skulls.
