Coming Soon: Día de los Muertos Barbie

 Día de Los Muertos is a centuriy-old tradition in Mexican culture, but it’s slowly permeated into the U.S. throughout the years; after the popularity of the movie “Coco”, it’s only grown in popularity. Now, Mattel is releasing what they’ve named the “Barbie Día de Muertos,” available on September 12th.

The doll is made to look like La Calavera Catrina, the iconic symbol of the holiday developed in 1912 by Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada. The company announced the doll earlier this week calling it an homage to “to Mexico, its festivities, its symbols, and its people,” according to the EFE Agency (quote has been translated).

The doll comes in a long dress embroidered with skulls and colorful flowers, with monarch butterflies trickling from head to toe and a crown of la flor de cempasúchil (the Mexican marigold).
The website Entertainment Earth had the limited edition doll available for preorder for $75, but it’s now sold out. There’s still no word on how much the doll will cost once it’s available, though it’s estimated to be around $30.

What do you think? Homage or cultural appropriation? Positive or negative?