‘Day of the Dead’ Barbie launches today in celebration of Mexican holiday

Designer of doll has defended it amid claims of cultural appropriation

(Mattel / BEEM)

Mattel is releasing a limited-edition “Day of the Dead” Barbie in celebration of the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos.

Día de Muertos, otherwise known as the "Day of the Dead", is a traditional holiday commemorated throughout Mexico during which people honour the lives of loved ones who have passed away.

The image of the skull has become a recognisable part of the celebration, with people painting their faces with ornate “sugar skull” designs as they observe the occasion.

The new “Day of the Dead” Barbie doll, which is being released on Thursday 12 September, is a female figure which has been designed with “sugar skull” face paint, a decorative headdress and a traditional, black, floral, Mexican dress.

Mattel, the toy manufacturing company which owns Barbie, confirmed that the Barbie is available to purchase for $75 (£60) at Walmart, Target and Amazon.com.

(Mattel / BEEM (Mattel / BEEM)

While some have praised the Barbie for celebrating Mexican culture, others have condemned it as an example of cultural appropriation.

"Is this a bad joke or what? #Mattel toy company plans to release and promotion of a Day of the Dead Barbie... Día de los Muertos is one of our most sacred traditions in Mexico dating back to prehispanic days. STOP PRODUCTION! [sic]" one person tweeted.

"Cultural Appropriation Barbie is coming out soon," another added.

"Don't worry! No proceeds will go to indigenous people that sell this kind of thing much cheaper. For only $75 you can help a multi-million dollar corporation get richer!"

Javier Meabe, the designer behind the doll, told news agency EFE that as a Mexican-American, he knows "how important this tradition is and the responsibility it implies to represent this culture".

"I just hope that people know how much love we put into this doll and how much respect we have for the Day of the Dead," he added.

Last year, thousands of people took part in the Día de Muertos parade in Mexico City.

The first official “Day of the Dead” parade in Mexico City took place in 2016 and was attended by a quarter of a million people.

While Día de Muertos has been commemorated in various iterations in Mexican culture for centuries, no official parade took place in the Mexican capital until 2016.

The Mexican government decided to introduce the parade to Mexico City following the popularity of the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, which featured a Día de Muertos parade in the city in its opening sequence.

To learn more about Día de Muertos, click here.