Kalaka ( Spanish Calaca , in the Mexican colloquial Spanish version is “skeleton”) is a figure of a skull or skeleton (usually a person), often used to decorate the festival for the Mexican Day of the Dead , although they are made all year round. Deriving its origin from the Aztec images, kalaks are often depicted with calendula flowers and leaves. As with other aspects of the Day of the Dead festival, kalakas are usually portrayed as joyful rather than sad figures. They are often shown wearing festive attire, dancing and playing musical instruments to show the happiness of the afterlife. This image is based on the belief of the Mexicans that dead souls do not grieve for death and that death is a joyful event. This faith, in turn, dates back to the Aztec beliefs, one of the few traditions left after the Spanish conquest.
The kalaki used in the festival includes carved mask masks of skulls worn by people on the streets, figures made of carved wood or burnt clay, as well as sweets in the shape of skulls and skeletons. Kalaki is sometimes made of wood, stone and even sweets.
A popular phrase among Mexicans and Latinos, sounding like "se lo (la) llevo la calaca" and pronounced after someone died, literally meaning "Kalaka took him (her)" or "death took him (her)".
In Guatemala , kalaka is understood as death. The figure of the naked skeleton represents death and means the fear of death. Thus, she is not portrayed as a joyful image in this country.
See also
- Calavera