click on photos for larger views, or make your own!
Free Papel Picado Pattern (pdf 132KB)
Jerome's Class Learned about Mexican Culture & about the El Dia de los Muertos Holiday
"Day of the Dead" is the Mexican holiday for remembering and honoring deceased
loved ones and ancestors. An important part of the tradition is laying out altars (called
"altares") to relatives. The holiday is celebrated annually on November 2nd.
Jerome led a team of fifth-graders charged with turning their social studies class's
three ArtHouses into El Dia de los Muertos folk art shrines. To make authentic decorations, they
chose to learn one of Mexico's most popular and distinctive folk arts: "papel picado".
A second group selected and arranged Day of the Dead offerings ("ofrendas") within the
three altars. Ofrendas usually contain religious items, candles and incense, photographes,
sugar-candy skulls, toy skeletons, and favorite toys, foods and beverages, and clothing
of the loved ones. They often also include marigold flowers. A third group made a small
banquet to learn about authentic Mexican foods.
Papel picado is a particular style of paper-cutting with its own traditions. The art
originated in pre-Columbian Mexico. Aztecs used mulbery and fig tree barks to make a rough
paper called "amatl". The art blossomed when tissue paper became available. Papel picado
artisans usually layer forty or fifty leaves of tissue and then punch designs with special
chisels called "fierritos". Sheets of papel picado are hung along strings as banners called
"banderitas".
Papel picado is made for many other celebrations besides Day of the Dead. Different
celebrations call for different colors and motifs. Day of the Dead paper-cuts are usually
purple (for pain), white (for hope) or pink (for celebration). Since the 1930's, most
Day of the Dead papel picado artwork has shown skeletons in funny scenes. These were
inspired by the art of José Guadalupe Posada, a very well-known engraver of cartoons. Religious
symbols are also popular. The scenes sometimes say something special or personal about the
ancestors' lives, but more often they're just colorful and imaginative decorations.
How to Make Mexican Papel Picado:
We recommend making papel picado scenes symmetrical down the middle like Jerome did.
Lay a sheet of regular paper flat. Put two or three layers of tissue on top of it. (Hint:
they can be different colors.) Then fold the stack in half down the middle. With stiffer
paper on the outside it's much easier to cut and also you can sketch and plan your design
on the cover. Jerome's other trick is to make a parallel crease near the opposite edge.
The second crease helps hold the paper sandwich together.
What differences can you see in the designs above? In the design on blue tissue every
hole is symmetrical. The design was cut entirely with scissors, so extra folds were
necessary. Every cut-out starts at a folded edge or at the edge of the paper.
Although it's possible to make all cuts with scissors, elaborate designs are much easier
with a sharp razor knife (as evidently done on the other two designs). Put an old
magazine under the paper so you won't cut into the table.
Be careful and remember: (1) You can't make "islands" of paper. (2) You have to be careful
because you can't "erase" a cut. (3) It's best to plan carefully so you won't have to
alter your design as you go. When you're all done cutting, flatten creases carefully
before removing the cover because the individual sheets of tissue will be very fragile.
As with most art, it takes practice, so don't get discouraged. Have fun!
Enlarged Images:
Mexican Day of the Dead Folk Art
La Ofrenda: a Folk Art Decorated Altar
Scissor-Cut Papel Picado
El Dia de los Muertos
Download a FREE Papel Picado Pattern (with instructions) (pdf 132KB)
Download a printer-optimized version of this page (pdf 120KB)
You're invited to submit art to the ArtHouse Children's Art Gallery!
Kids' Art Gallery Submission Instructions
Return To The ArtHouse Children's Art Gallery
