No Halloween

I love Halloween - it's one of my favorite holidays (rivals with Christmas), but I don't like it because I like to get scared. What I love about Halloween are the colors, the costumes, the family and friends, the food, the trick or treaters and the parties. I consider it a fun holiday and celebrate it for tradition, not for the particulars surrounding it's birth.

Well, when I got here last week I found out that Mexicans do not celebrate Halloween, at least not like we do. Which I don't think is common knowledge in the US since everyone I talked to about it before I came assured me that we'd definitely be able to celebrate Halloween while we're here. What Mexico does celebrate is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 1-2. Nov. 1 is All Saints Day and Nov. 2 is All Souls Day. From what I've gathered, the Day of the Dead is a joyous holiday to the Mexican people. It's a time to remember and celebrate the dead. I think it's interesting that the Mexicans celebrate death, whereas we tend to celebrate our fear of death or fear itself.

To celebrate the Day of the Dead, the families here make alters at the graves of their deceased loved ones which they adorn with flowers, candles and crosses. They put the favorite foods, drinks, and a picture of the deceased on their alters. They let the kids run around, play music, drink, eat food and pretty much have a party in the cemetery. I imagine it wouldn't take long for the police to show up if such festivities took place in the US. :) But I think it sounds like a good way to celebrate the dead.

Above is a picture of the Catrina, a traditional figure of the Day of the Dead. I first saw a beautiful version of it at our neighbor's house, and thought it would be kind of fun to add to my collection of Halloween decorations. While I was waiting to pick up dinner from a Mexican restaurant the other night, I asked the owner about it. Somehow between the owners broken English and the 20 Spanish words that I understand, I found out that the Catrina is someone who will help you get to hell. The owner's wife said she doesn't like the Catrina and it creeps her out. Interesting. I wonder what she would think of some of the crazy things people to do to celebrate Halloween in the US.

So this year we'll be celebrating Dia de los Muertos instead of Halloween. Well, as much as we can for not actually knowing anyone buried in any of the cemeteries here. :)