Skulls, why?

Halloween is comming up. Otherwise known as the Day of the Dead. This is celebrated through religious groups and many cultures. I would assume since you haven't seen it before, you do not celebrate this holiday. Here in America children dress up in costumes and go door to door and say "trick or treat" just to get candy for wearing their costumes. For some hispanic cultures (celebrated in mexico or in the U.S.) they celebrate the day of the dead by putting out candles for the dead souls and things like that.

Most people don't think of it as death we just think as skulls being bad ass. (= But I see where your comming from.

Well many people think that Skulls represent something other than just physical death. I've been apart of the goth and metalhead scenes before, and many people explained to me that they feel that skulls represent the lives lost to the people who buy into the mainstream. When you give up your individuality, you give up your life, and therefor, are dead. So they wear the skulls and skull patterns to mourne for all those lost to the mainstream.

I'm not really into those scenes anymore [They are still apart of me, and if anyone asks, I will say that I am goth, and metalhead, that I am everything] but I still do like the skulls for those reasons.


Now, just in case someone asks [because a lot of people do], Mainstream is not bad if its actually WHO YOU ARE. Many people buy into the culture and don't even like it, they just do it because they want to be seen as "cool". Giving up who you are to be cool is worse than death. If you really DO like Hollister and Sagging pants and whatever else is in, thats awesome, but if you don't like it, don't appreciate it, don't think its you, then why do it?

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind.



But This is was if you arn't refering to the recent outbreak being past few weeks recent instead of past few years recent, then thats called Halloween, or as KT said, day of the dead. It comes from the celtic religions, the pagan ones, originally called Samhain. Its when the fabric between our world and theirs gets at its thinnest point, and lore is that many goblins and gouls may break free of their own world, and cross over into ours. So we dress up as to blend with them.

Thats all lore though, its fun, but its really a lot more spitirual than that.

dude I think Halloween happens in the Netherlands too!

Personally I don't like the skull thing in reference to punk looks *shrugs* but I do like sugar skulls, the day of the dead festival is all about celebration rather then being upset over death. They visit the grave of people they've lost etc. I think it's nice.

Imo, death is a part of our lives wether we like it or not, so why not skulls? It is a part of our body after all.

it also represents change not just death, but i am sure everyone has their own definition on certain things. =>

Well yeah Sug, commonly on tarot cards the death card is a picture of a skull, but that card doesn't actually mean you're going to die, it means a new start. It's a very Pagan thing that there isn't really an end, there is only a cross-over and rebirth. Although I'm sure lots of people know that =P

yep thats were i learned it I am pagan and that is what i believe.

I didn't know you were too. You're also Gemini. Hmm. You might be my twin (who's twelve years older than me)!

LOL MY LONG LOST TWIN!! FOUND AGAIN!!! ....ouch 12 years older...**collaspes* lol

WAIT! There are more pagans here! Wow this place really is my home

Btw, I have to reread every thing that I right because I'm kinda loopy on my pain meds, so if I don't make sense... yea... I apologize.

Memento Mori? Change? Just throwing out ideas... Also, it's not a scary thing for some cultures. The day of the dead with all those skulls, and getting together to clean graveyards.. .and... I dunno. I don't think they have to be nice to be appreciated. It seems healthier to me some how. Less fear.

But then again, I'm terrified of skulls and skeletons. But have you ever found an ostrich skeleton when young?? that's some freaky crap. Took a whole bunch of courses in biology to kind of get over /that/ fear and I still wouldn't want skulls on anything of mine, either.

Thanks for all your ideas on this, it helped me understand it more. Still don't like them though, not even if they are pink ;-)

"and many people explained to me that they feel that skulls represent the lives lost to the people who buy into the mainstream. When you give up your individuality, you give up your life, and therefor, are dead. So they wear the skulls and skull patterns to mourne for all those lost to the mainstream."

I'm sorry, but that made me giggle a hella lot. It just reminded me of being like... 12 years old and thinking that everyone who wore clothes from New Look or Topshop were evil, stupid people. I get where you are coming from, with the whole.. individuality being important- but it just seemed a bit.. far fetched. Anyway! Enough of my random giggles.

I love skulls in Day of The Dead celebrations, well... sorta. I love them in just the day of the dead celebrations. I don't like Day of the dead skull fabrics or tattoos or anything, but in the actual celebration I am alllll for it. I also love Skulls in fine art, used as memento moris, as Violinagin D pointed out. It's important to remember that you are not immortal and that you have to live every day with as much gusto as you can manage, lest it's your last.

But, I'm going to agree with you Marieke, they are over-used and have alas, become tacky, especially on clothing and things.