Celebration, cultural appropriation, or something else?
Abstract
The celebration of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) has extended beyond the acknowledged origin in Mexico and the cultural traditions of the Aztecs and other indigenous civilisations. Of the many cultural symbols of Day of the Dead and Day of the Dead celebrations is the Day of the Dead doll La Catrina, a skeletal figure generally dressed in elegant traditional clothing. This chapter examines the historic role of Day of the Dead dolls in terms of cultural identity, in contrast to cultural imperialism, resulting from the commercialisation of La Catrina, as personified by Day of the Dead Barbie.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cultural Identity and Heritage
Latin American and Latino Studies
Social Issues and Sustainability
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 262–271
- Publication date
- 11 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter