I know Halloween is long gone, but after the All Hallows eve we have the beautiful tradition of Day of the Death or ” Dia de los Muertos” and one of its most representative figures is the Catrina.

Some of my dear cake artists friends, decided to pay tribute to this beautiful tradition that connects us with death by organizing an International Cake Collaboration called “ The Catrina Parade”

The “ Dia de los Muertos” brings us closer to death in its most beautiful way, the reunion with our loved ones.

  “ La Catrina” being part of this tradition of a day to talk and remember our family and friends long gone through the veil of death, came as a reinvention of a tradition of native cultures transformed and evolved with the influence of the church so these traditions wouldn´t get lost.

Many people, now influenced by merchandise and party celebrations, do not realize that Day of the Death as well as Halloween are old pagan traditions that have endure through ages by becoming part of our culture no matter the influence of where we live.

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the death I believe is one of the most celebrated one in every culture and country, but in Mexico it is a way of life, a tradition that passes through family and that brings together generations.

My dear friend Gerardo Zarco along with Daniele Cannarozzo and Daniela Cabrera organized this cake collaboration. Gerardo wrote to me in Spanish:

“Catrina Parade nace por el gusto de celebrar las fechas del día de muertos que son el 1 y 2 de Noviembre, aunque muchas veces inician desde antes ya que muchas personas tienen la creencia no sólo de que sus familiares vienen esos días sino,que incluso sus mascotas también, en México la cultura a la muerte viene de épocas prehispánicas es una celebración a la vida, la Catrina es un personaje muy arraigado a las fechas aunque no fue creada precisamente para ello fue Guadalupe Posadas quién la dibujó haciendo burla a la sociedad de la época en la que vivió ya que decía “La muerte es diplomática” y tiene razón es lo único seguro que tenemos desde el día en que nacimos, podemos ser rico, pobres, exitosos, famosos, etc todos vamos a llegar a ese punto de sueño eterno y porqué no celebrar en vida!! Así que después de creada se convirtió en imagen de las festividades en la cuál rendimos homenaje . Quizá sea que la muerte no es más que el principio.”

Let me translate his words: “The Catrina Parade was born from the idea to celebrate the Day of the Death that is between 1^st and 2^nd of November, even though many celebrate even before. People believe that their family and even their pets that are dead return during those days. In Mexico The cult to death comes from pre-Hispanic times and it is a celebration of life itself. The Catrina , created by Guadalupe Posadas became an icon of these celebrations, representing a diplomatic figure of death, since it is the most certain thing we have since the day we are born and death comes to all, poor or rich without exception. So why not celebrate it during our lifetime because death might not be the end but the beginning.”

I can only invite you to see this great collaboration and enjoy all the amazing pieces that many of my cake friends created for this occasion.

Check out this amazing artists and their pieces:

And if you like this post, please like and follow the Catrina Parade official Facebook page and don´t forget to comment, like, share and subscribe to my blog.

Love,

Cristina