Reckoning With Our Racial Past
La Catrina: Lady of the Dead
Catrina/ Mictecacíhuatl
An elegant figure, Catrina is a work of art, a woodcut, created by artist José Guadalupe Posada as a satire of the social situation in Mexico in 1910. Catrina was one of multiple characters that Posada wisely created with his talent to demonstrate the challenges of life and at the same time allow us to laugh at difficult situations. Posada’s approach lent itself to making Catrina extremely popular, and gradually Catrina transformed into one of the most widely recognizeable symbols of Día de muertos, Day of the Dead.
Originally, as Catrina was a pre-Hispanic, indigenous representation of Mictecacíhuatl, or the woman from Mictlán, she made fun of those who denied their indigenous roots. As for her clothing, Catrina’s outfit is European, and she, aside from being a skeleton, is beautiful.
Lighting Ceremony with La Catrina (2015/2015) by SLCSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
By Andreas FeiningerLIFE Photo Collection
Mictecacíhuatl, it was.
As an elegant Catrina,
the one in the wide-brimmed hat
transforms herself.
The Flight of the Monarch Butterfly (2016/2016) by SLCSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
Behold. Orange
Fluttering, fill her
with your vital life-force.
Spirits of the ancestors,
cover her heart.
Monarch's Journey
People of Mesoamerica believed that the Monarch butterfly symbolized the return of their ancestors' souls as the Monarch's return migration to Mexico coincidences with Dia de Los Muertos.
Catrina Holding Marigolds (2012/2012) by LVMSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
Papel picado rustles
announcing Catrina.
Opulent, she emerges with a procession
of orange butterflies.
Smoke of Copal (2015/2015) by SLCSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
She dances with her wide-brimmed hat.
The wind dances with her, and
shrouds her in the smoke of copal.
It bathes her in yellow flowers.
Altar with marygolds (2015/2015) by SLCSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
Fragrance of copal and sugar
calaveras comfort the souls.
Steaming chocolate on one’s palate.
Pink papel picado flitters.
Ofrenda Night (2012/2012) by LVMSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
Only on this evening, the living and the deceased
are hand in hand. Hot chocolate
and amber light bathe our gait
among flowers, papel picado, and smiles.
Altar with sugar skulls (2015/2015) by Xánath CarazaSmithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino
Smoke arising from the copal guides us.
Zempasúchiles greet us
meanwhile
Catrina dances on.
As the Monarch, la Catrina dances, worships, and celebrates the return of the spirits. Celebrating the journey of the souls assures the continuity of life.
These are the native Pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico such as the American Indian cultures of the United States. This Mexican indigenous concept of death in the Day of the Dead celebration represents just another stage of the cycle of life. It can be viewed as a very healthful approach to death many times avoided in our everyday conversations.
Smithsonian Latino Center, Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos
Research/Scholarship:
Xánath Caraza, Poet/Writer
Dr. Xóchitl Chávez, Cultural Anthropologist
"Catrina" poem courtesy of Xánath Caraza
Co-curated by:
Melissa Carrillo, Creative Director, Smithsonian Latino Center.
Paola Ramirez, Digital Media Specialist, Smithsonian Latino Center
SLC Image Collections courtesy of:
Xánath Caraza, Poet/Writer
Dr. Xóchitl Chávez, Cultural Anthropologist
Monarch butterfly animation still courtesy of:
Stacey Fox, Transmedia Artist
Visit the Smithsonian Latino Center Mobile Outreach Channel to learn more about the Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos traditions.
Generous support for this program is provided by Target, an Education Sponsor of the Smithsonian Latino Center.
