A giant statue of Katrina, standing 33.41 metres tall, has been erected in the Mexican capital and has officially been entered into the Guinness World Records as the tallest of its kind in the world. The monumental sculpture was placed in the central Zócalo square on the eve of the Day of the Dead — one of the country’s most important traditional festivals. The installation is surrounded by around 70,000 orange cempasúchil flowers, which in Mexican culture symbolise the connection between the world of the living and the dead.
Briefly about the main points
- A 33.41-metre-tall statue of Katrina has been erected in Mexico City.
- The sculpture has officially broken the Guinness World Record.
- Around 140 craftsmen worked on creating the sculpture.
- The square was decorated with 70,000 Cemapsuchil flowers.
- Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead on 1–2 November.
Katrina is as tall as an 11-storey building
The sculpture was officially unveiled on 29 October in Constitution Square in the historic centre of Mexico City. A representative from Guinness World Records Alfredo Arista officially confirmed the height of the statue as 33.411 metres.
The previous record was held by a sculpture erected in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in 2023. It stood 28.15 metres tall.
New Katrina It was created by the artisans of the Xibalbá art workshop. Around 140 artists and technical specialists worked on the structure. Cardboard, fibreglass, fabric and a steel frame were used to create it.
The sculpture depicts a female skeleton in a sumptuous purple dress over 27 metres long. Her head is adorned with bright flowers, and a huge arrangement of orange marigolds, known in Mexico as cempasúchil, has been arranged around the figure.
The square’s festive decorations were complemented by 66 decorative axolotl figures, traditional Mexican motifs and themed lighting. Visitors can view the record-breaking sculpture until 2 November.
What does Katrina symbolise, and how do Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead?
Katrina is one of the most famous symbols of Mexican culture. Her image emerged in the early 20th century thanks to a graphic artist José Guadalupe Posadi, which depicted an elegant female skeleton as a satire on social inequality and the desire to emulate European fashion.
Over time, this character became an integral part of the Day of the Dead celebrations — Día de Muertos.
The festival traditionally takes place on 1–2 November. During these days, Mexican families remember their deceased loved ones, visit cemeteries and set up home altars with photographs, candles, flowers and the deceased’s favourite dishes.
According to folk beliefs, the souls of the deceased temporarily return to their families. The orange flowers of the cemposuchil, with their rich colour and fragrance, symbolically show them the way home.
Unlike the sombre view of death common in many countries, the Mexican Day of the Dead combines remembrance, family traditions, music and colourful celebrations.
