Brief
Mexico City unveils 110‑foot La Catrina sculpture, breaking Guinness record
The steel‑fiberglass figure will stay in place until November 2, marking the start of Día de los Muertos celebrations.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Mexico City has installed a nearly 110‑foot‑tall La Catrina sculpture in the Zócalo, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest Day of the Dead monument.
What happened
The steel and fiberglass figure, depicting a female skeleton in a flowing purple dress, was assembled by about 140 workers. Its dress measures over 88 feet in length, and the surrounding altar (ofrenda) is bordered by an estimated 70,000 marigold plants grown in the nearby Xochimilco borough. The sculpture will remain erected until November 2, the second day of the Día de los Muertos festivities.
What the reports add
Popsci notes that the monument surpasses the previous record held by a 92.3‑foot Catrina in Puerto Vallarta, built in 2023. The article also explains that La Catrina originates from early‑20th‑century illustrator José Guadalupe Posada’s “La Calavera Catrina,” later expanded by muralist Diego Rivera in the 1940s.
What was said
The piece is described as a “relatively traditional example of La Catrina,” according to the Popsci report.
How it came about
Mexico’s Day of the Dead, observed on November 1‑2, honors deceased relatives. While historians debate the holiday’s pre‑Hispanic versus colonial roots, the celebration has become one of the nation’s most iconic events, with participants wearing skeleton‑themed costumes and building ofrendas.
Key facts
- The La Catrina sculpture in Mexico City's Zócalo is nearly 110 feet tall. (popsci.com)
- Guinness World Records recognized it as the tallest Day of the Dead monument. (popsci.com)
- About 140 people assembled the steel‑fiberglass structure. (popsci.com)
- The sculpture will stay in place until November 2, 2026. (popsci.com)
Sources
- [1] popsci.com — originally reported as “World’s tallest Day of the Dead sculpture erected in Mexico City”
