The origin of sugar skulls goes all the way back to a time when the skull was a predominant figure in Mesoamerican societies (1500 B.C. until 1521 A.D.) in various depictions. One depiction was tzompantli, which was a wooden rack where the skulls of prisoners of war and human sacrifices were displayed. The tzompantli could also be an altar depicting the journey to the spiritual world. These civilizations believed in spiritual life after death. The skulls were offered to the god of the underworld, Mictlantecuhtli. They were then assured safe passage to the underworld. Aztec mythology says that he ruled Mictlan, which is the lowest northernmost point in the underworld. It is not uncommon to find sugar skulls made with Mictlantecuhtlis face on them.
When the Spanish brought their religion, the traditions were then lost. Part of them was kept alive by maintaining the figure of a skull in a piece of candy-colored and decorated.
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