Día De Los Muertos Inspired

A very belated Happy Halloween!   I meant to post this days ago but life and chest infections got in the way... I thought I'd just go ahead and share it with you anyway though because I love Halloween.

I got some very last minute plans and I had to look festive in just a few hours this year!  I decided to do face makeup to resemble a Mexican Día De Los Muertos skull (no, nobody in Dublin looked at me and went ooh I get it, Día de los Muertos!!)

Díá de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is 1st - 2nd November coinciding with the Catholic holy days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  It is basically a time to rememember deceased loved ones.  I think its origins are mixed in with Aztec beliefs and early Catholicism.  The face paint, or women dressing as 'catrinas', are popular in the parades and celebrations.  As well as rememberance, some say that the face paint especially help us get in touch with our darker and more 'chaotic' side and helps us to not fear death.  I liked that principle and put it to the test...well, it was a good night anyway!

My look is really more of a nod to it (and perhaps 80s Madonna).  I didn't have time to get white face makeup so I didn't go as full on as I could have and I definitley needed a bit more black around my eyes.  I did a little bit of colour on my forehead and some seamed lips though!  If I do this look again next year, I will definitley do more.  The flowers are meant to be marigolds but again..time meant that they became roses.  The strong scent of marigolds is supposed to help guide the departed back.  I pinned this beautiful fringed and beaded shawl of my Mums around a black lace dress, added my roasary beads, pinned a flower in my hair and voila!  Sometimes homemade, or at least home put together, is the best type of costume...and no expense spared! 

My Mum's birthday is the day before Halloween so every year, in lieu of birthday cake, she gets an apple tart with money baked into it.  Not sure if this is something done in other countries?  You traditionally bake in a ring, some money and a button to predict your fate - marriage, wealth or poverty! 

We had a lovely birthday dinner for her in the house (after a few hours at the horse racing in Dublin!) eating warming seasonal dishes and the house just felt lovely and cosy..a nice farewell to Autumn / Fall as winter begins to take hold.

Our trick or treat table shortly after we ate all the remaining sweets..though note the club biscuit left over for any last minute callers!

Belfast is crazy this weekend with the MTV EMAs being on, I may go to the Snow Patrol gig tommorow in the city centre if I can face the mania...free tickets! 

 Have a great weekend everyone xox