Ultimate Guide: Papel Picado History and Day of the Dead 

Papel picado is more than just a decoration. It’s a form of traditional Mexican art with rich history that dates back to pre-Columbian times. These beautiful, intricate Mexican banners are instantly recognizable during Day of the Dead celebrations. But what is their true meaning and how did they become a symbol of this cherished holiday?

WHAT IS MEXICAN PAPEL PICADO?

Papel picado translates to “perferated paper,” which is essentially tissue paper banners with intricate designs. Some so intricate, they can resemble fine lace. To make papel picado, artists string together the “flags” with twine to create the colorful banners.

Designs can be simple or complex, depending on the skill level of the artist and the intended use of the banner. A few of the most popular designs include: flowers, foliage, animals and birds, angels, crosses, calaveras, historic figures such as Frida Kahlo and José Guadalupe Posada’s Catrina, and personalized words, names, or phrases associated with specific celebrations. Each design is a unique and complex work of art requiring a keen ability to envision the use of negative space.

HOW IS PAPEL PICADO MADE?

Skilled craftsmen use awls, chisels and special cutting blades to create intricate designs into folded tissue paper. Working over a basic pattern, they hand-cut through as many as 50-100 sheets of tissue paper at a time. Once the design is complete, they carefully unfold the tissue paper, revealing the cutouts.

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HISTORY OF PAPEL PICADO

• Aztec Roots: Papel picado, a pre-columbian craft, dates back to the Aztecs who used to use the bark of mulberry and wild fig trees to make and decorate a rough paper called amatl. They used this tree bark “paper” to make flags and banners, and used it to adorn homes, streets, fields, and temples.
• Spanish Influence: This practice evolved in the 18th century when the Spaniards introduced many new foreign products to the region of Mexico, including tissue paper. The Spanish church would later commission artisans to make thousands of strings of papel picado with different designs for religious festivals where they hung in church plazas and lined the streets, a practice that you can still see today throughout Mexico. That was when artisans began to apply this ancient art form to a new material, and thus, papel picado came to be the quintessential fiesta decoration we are familiar with today.

HOW IS PAPEL PICADO USED IN MEXICAN CULTURE?

Papel picado is used for a number of celebrations and events in Mexican culture, including:

• Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
• Weddings
• Birthdays
• Quinceñeras
• Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo
• Christmas
• Easter
• Valentine’s Day
• Christenings and baptisms
• Religious and cultural festivals and much more!

These colorful Mexican banners are often hung in homes, streets, and public places to add bright color and a festive vibe to the occasion. They’re even used to decorate party invitations and as cake toppers!

FUN FACT: In 2016, the largest papel picado banner ever made was created in Puebla, Mexico, the site of the historic battle of Cinco de Mayo. The banner was over a mile long and included over 45,000 individual papel picado flags, each one measuring 1.5 meters long and 1 meter wide.

While many consider papel picado a form of Mexican “folk art,” I would argue that these finely designed and cut tissue papers are actually a form of fine art!

DAY OF THE DEAD & PAPEL PICADO

Colorful papel picado adds color and symbolism to Día de los Muertos altars as it represents the element of wind. This delicate tissue paper is so lightweight that when it moves, it signals to families that their departed loved ones have arrived. On Day of the Dead, papel picado and its ephemeral nature captures beautifully the union between the worlds of the living and the dead.

DAY OF THE DEAD COLORS

On Day of the Dead, papel picado colors on an ofrenda take on new meanings. Below are a few examples:

• Black: Mictlán, the land of the dead, or death
• Purple: grief and mourning
• Pink: celebration, celebration, and joy
• White: purity, hope, and the innocence of the children (angelitos) honored on November 1st
• Orange: the sun and light, most famously seen in the cempasúchil (marigold) flower, which is believed to guide spirits to the altar with its vibrant color and scent
• Yellow: also represents light and honors the elderly who have died

WHERE TO BUY PAPEL PICADO: My favorite U.S. shop for handmade papel picado is Aye Mujer! You can also find it in many Mexican markets, craft stores, and online retailers including Lola’s Mercadito. You can also purchase handmade papel picado directly from artisans in Mexico or learn how to make it yourself.

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• 7 Day of the Dead Traditions to Start as a Family This Year

All images (except the altar images) are from the talented papel picado artist, Yreina Flores, founder of Ay Mujer! She is based in Indio, CA and you can purchase her work online at aymujershop.com.

Lola’s Cocina is a small business that earns various revenue streams. This includes sponsored posts and affiliate commissions from linked products, which I use and love, with no extra cost to readers. This income helps sustain the site.