Happy Dia de los Muertos, good people!
It's what Calavera is all about, after all! No kidding, it's a big part of our origin story (and one of the reasons I shave my head and get all painted up like this every year).
You see, a Calavera is an artistic representation of a skull, primarily associated with Dia de los Muertos, which is all about honoring those who did the hard work before us, laying the groundwork for who we are and how we live. Of course you've seen these painted skulls everywhere in recent years, particularly around Halloween, which, well... happens to be the day before el Dia de los Muertos, a major holiday in Old Mexico.
So what's the tie-in, you're itching to know? Well, upon my return from living in Spain many years ago, I took a job that caused me to frequent many jobsites and furniture factories here in the South. And I was fortunate enough to make quite a few friends among the hard working immigrant community from south of the border. Their hard work, commitment to community and deep sense of heritage resonated with me.
Upon my exit from corporate a decade ago, the name Calavera seemed a perfect fit, if even just aspirational. Products built for hard work, with a healthy respect not only for those who use them, but for those who pioneered the craft before us.
Thus Calavera Tool Works was born. And here we remain, still striving to do exceptional work that is worthy of those who came before us.
So there you have it, the Calavera origin story.