Day of the Dead Barbie doll hitting store shelves ahead of holiday

Mattel's latest Barbie doll is a collectible celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

USA Today reported that it's the first Barbie doll celebrating the Mexican festival, in which friends and family take part in the 3,000-year-old ritual honoring loved ones who have died. The ritual was started by the Aztecs and spread through the country.

Dressed in a long black gown with embroidered sleeves and a monarch butterfly and marigold headpiece, the doll has a traditional skull mask painted on her face. People reported that the doll's black hair has turquoise streaks and is styled in two long braids.

The butterflies typically migrate to Mexico around the time of the festival, which is Nov. 1 and 2 this year. CNN reported winter migration of the butterflies have since symbolized the dead coming back to visit loved ones.

Festivals, parades, parties and food and drink celebrate the event and streets and graveyards of loved ones are typically decorated with marigolds and representatives of human skeletons, CNN reported.

The collectible, limited edition doll will sell for $75 on Amazon.com, Walmart and Target starting Sept. 12, a company spokesperson told USA Today.

Cox Media Group