Preparations for Día de los Muertos are proceeding apace here in Pátzcuaro.
It is believed that the dead like sweets, and
calaveritas de azúcar (sugar skulls) are made or purchased to display on family altars (
ofrendas) as offerings to the dead. This week, more than 50 vendors of the traditional sugar skulls and other sweets associated with this celebration have set up under one of the
portales of the Plaza Grande.
The skulls are made of
alfeñique, a paste of white sugar, egg white, water, lemon juice and cream of tartar. The paste is shaped in plastic molds and allowed to dry, followed by decorating with soft icing in a variety of colors and forms and sometimes shiny foil or sequins.
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Small marzipan coffins for Day of the Dead
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The skulls come in all shapes, sizes and styles. The name of the deceased family member or friend being honored is usually written in icing on the back of the sugar skull. More info is
here.
The skulls are also made in sweet chocolate. White chocolate skeletons as well as sugar or marzipan coffins are also popular.
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