What is alebrijes?

Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. The first alebrijes, along with the use of the term, originated with an artisan named Pedro Linares. Linares originally created the figures as papier-mâché in the 1930s. The figures have elements of various animals, such as dragons, jaguars or bats and are painted in bright colors with intricate patterns. Today, Alebrijes are made from a variety of materials such as wood, paper mache and metal, and are popular souvenirs for tourists visiting Mexico. They have become ingrained in Mexican culture both economically and symbolically, as they represent the creativity, imagination, and ingenuity of their makers. Alebrijes are also featured prominently during the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, as decorations on altars and in parades.