What is often written across the forehead of a sugar skull?

The deceased’s name is often written across the forehead of a sugar skull.

This name identifies the person being remembered and turns the otherwise general skull shape into a personal memorial. Sugar skulls may be placed on a Day of the Dead altar, or they may be given as gifts. Decorative versions commonly use icing, colored foil, beads, and other bright ornaments.

The practice is not limited to one design or one strict ritual. A skull made for an altar may carry the name of a deceased loved one, while a candy skull given to a living person may carry that recipient’s name. That is why “the deceased’s name” describes a common tradition but not every sugar skull.

Sugar skulls are called calaveras de azúcar and are linked with the broader calavera tradition. Some are edible, while elaborate examples are made chiefly as folk art and may include decorations that are not safe to eat. Their cheerful colors reflect remembrance, personality, and the continuing relationship between the living and the dead.