An Iconic image of Dia De Los Muertos is the sugar skull. It has become a classic art form of Dia De Los Muertos and truly brings out the creativity in many of those who have mastered the skills in making them. Like many of the art forms you see during Dia De Los Muertos festivities, sugar skulls have their own meaning and history as well. Sugar skulls represent the beauty of death as a celebration for those who have passed away. The skulls are usually placed on gravestones sometimes with food and beverages that serve as a guide to bring the spirits back to earth. The smaller skulls are put on altars representing the children who have passed away. Unlike many cultures, Dia De Los Muertos is a tradition that celebrates the dead opposed to many other cultures who mourn the deaths of loved one's differently.
"The sugar skulls are reminders of a long history that can be traced back to the Aztec empire. Celebrations honoring the underworld and its inhabitants “could be found in Mexico well before the European invasion,” says Delia Cosentino, an associate professor of art history and architecture at DePaul University who specializes in the visual culture of Mexico, in an email."