The Halloween festivities may have come to a close, but there's still more seasonal festivities to celebrate. No, it's not time to break out the cornucopia just yet. Instead, pull out your sugar skulls and miniature skeletons, because today is the Day of the Dead.
The Mexican holiday, known as El Día de los Muertos, is a yearly celebration that pays tribute to the memory of departed spirits. Celebrated in Hispanic communities across the globe, the Catholic tradition harkens back to early Aztec practices of worshipping the goddess Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead. The specifics of the holiday include making lavish altars, holding vigils and decorating cemeteries, often involving decadent images of death that take the form of painted skulls, costumed skeletons and vivid folk art.
In honor of the celebration, we've put together a slideshow of amazing skull art. From Vincent van Gogh's smoking skeleton to Damien Hirst's diamond-encrusted creation, scroll through the slideshow below and get in the mood for the Day of the Dead.
10 Amazing Skull Artworks For Day Of The Dead
Damien Hirst(01 of11)
Open Image ModalArtist Damien Hirst is well known for his affinity for human skulls. This particular skull is shown covered with 8,601 diamonds and is estimated to be worth over $50 million. Photo by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd via Getty Images (credit:Getty Images)
A picture taken on May 12, 2010 in Reims(02 of11)
Open Image ModalFake skulls made by French sculptor Jean-Pierre Formica and displayed in the cellars of Champagne Pommery during a contemporary art exhibition named 'Surnature'. FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP/Getty Images (credit:Getty Images)
Andy Warhol(03 of11)
Open Image Modal"Skulls," 1976 by Andy Warhol. (credit:PA)
Subodh Gupta(04 of11)
Open Image ModalSubodh Gupta's sculpture "Mind shut down" at the Frieze Sculpture exhibit. (credit:PA)
José Guadalupe Posada(05 of11)
Open Image ModalMexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada's "Grand Electric Skull" (c. 1900-1913). (credit:Wikimedia)
Alastair Mackie(06 of11)
Open Image ModalUndated handout of a skull by artist Alastair Mackie. (credit:PA)
José Clemente Orozco(07 of11)
Open Image ModalDetail of a mural by José Clemente Orozco at Baker Library, Dartmouth College. (credit:Wikimedia)
Diego Rivera(08 of11)
Open Image Modal"Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park", 1947-48. (credit:Wikimedia)
Bruno Peinado(09 of11)
Open Image ModalDisco skull artwork by French artist Bruno Peinado at the art fair in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, April 17, 2012. AP Photo/Martin Meissner (credit:AP)
Vincent van Gogh(10 of11)
Open Image Modal"Skull with a Burning Cigarette", 1885-1886. (credit:Wikimedia)
BONUS: Can you spot the skull?(11 of11)
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