Calaca figures to celebrate the Day of the Dead
© PvE/Alam
A party for the departed. All Souls Day
Whether made of wood, clay, or even candy, these Day of the Dead skeleton figures, called calaca, share one common trait: They’re having fun. The reason for the whimsical portrayal of death is a holdover from the Aztec influence on Mexican culture: The dead do not want to be remembered with sadness, but rather the joy they brought to the world when they were alive. Today is the final day of the three-day celebration, beginning with All Saints Eve on October 31 and ending today with All Souls Day.
Related Images
The Circle Bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark
Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. Jaipur, early 19th century
'The Spirit of Harlem' mural by Louis Delsarte in Harlem, New York City
A woman looks at Yayoi Kusama's 'With All My Love for The Tulips, I Pray Forever (2011)'
Aerial view of kindergarteners drawing on a canvas in Nantong, in the Jiangsu province of China
An assortment of postage stamps with images of Mahatma Gandhi
Mural of Frida Kahlo on an apartment building in Mexico
An artisan applies final touches to an effigy of Ravana in Jammu, India
Bing Today Images
Polar bear and cubs by Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada
Nov 02, 2026
Tea plantations in Munnar, Kerala, India
Nov 02, 2022
Cork tree forest
Nov 02, 2019
