Mexican Folk Art: Tissue Flowers

The first Mexican paper flowers were used to decorate churches and home altars, and were made in muted colors, the edges often accented with gold or silver. The flowers go beyond the utilitarian craft and become pieces of folk art.

Paper flowers were used to decorate the church in times of the year were natural flowers were not available.

Talented artisans made different types of flowers in a great variety of shades accomplishing realistic, bright and colorful paper flowers. demand for the paper flowers (and in brighter hues) grew, and are very popular today.

The Dahlia was declared the national flower of Mexico in 1963. President Adolfo López Mateos decreed that the dahlia, one of Mexico’s numerous “gifts to the world”, should be the nation’s national flower. And so it remains today – a perfect symbol of the beauty and diversity found throughout the country.

Day of the Dead flowers is the name given in Mexico to the flowers used to decorate tombstones and altars during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

It is believed that the scent of the flowers will make the returning souls feel welcomed and happy.

There’s been a long tradition in Mexico of constructing things, such as flowers, out of colored tissue paper. It’s a tradition that started more than 200 years ago in Mexico and it’s still growing today.