In much of North America, the word skull conjures up images of spooky Halloween costumes, and trick or treaters darting from house to house filling their bags with goodies.

Skulls are also very popular in modern culture. They can say, "I'm tough. Don’t mess with me.”

Many teenagers are drawn to skulls and will wear clothing with skulls that may be simple or ornate. If you work at a school, you can attest to the popularity of skulls among teens.

Skull jewelry is also popular. My son is a fan of skulls and he enjoys wearing his skull rings and T-shirts.

When he was a teenager, the skull represented toughness to him. As an adult, he likes the mysticism associated with skulls as well as their artistic quality.

Perhaps you know someone who uses skulls as home decor. This trend sees skulls decorated with jewels on bookcases and end tables.

If you want to try skulls in your home decorating, a string of mini-skull lights can add interest to a room or, for a bigger statement, consider skull wallpaper as an accent wall.

Aside from the popularity of skulls as a cool symbol for decorating, clothing, and jewelry, skulls play a principal role in the culture of Mexico.

Have you ever been to Mexico during early November? If you have, then you have likely observed the wonderful, colorful festivities of el Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, one of the biggest celebrations in Mexico.

El Dia de los Muertos is an occasion that celebrates the departed, those family and friends who have passed away.

Skulls feature prominently on this occasion, but unlike the spooky skulls of Halloween, sugar skulls are designed to celebrate and honor the lives of the people who have died.

The term sugar skull refers to skulls that are sometimes edible, and they are also made as ornaments.

These skulls are made, as the name suggests, from sugar, or if they are intended as decorations, from clay.

Skulls made from sugar taste sweet like candy. Sugar skulls are decorated with icing and are often adorned with other details that speak to the person’s life.

Sugar skulls are usually brightly colored through the use of food coloring and very attractive. 

The background is left white while colored icing is then applied to bring personality to the skull.

In addition to the icing, glitter, feathers, beads, and other ornamentation decorates the skull.

Across the top of the skull the name of the departed person is written. Sugar skulls are usually then placed on the person’s gravesite where eventually the elements cause the sugar to dissolve and seep into the ground.

This represents the circle of life. And reminds us of the fleeting nature of time, and that we should remember that life is precious.

In the “Sugar Skulls Coloring Book” you will find fifty pages of intricate skull designs that invite you to decorate them according to your own preferences.

Bring your artistic flair to each page and reap the many benefits of coloring.