Comments on: Halloween: Spirits, Costumes, Bonfires, Apples and Jack o’ Lanterns

By: Los Dias de los Muertos at worldculturenet.com

Los Dias de los Muertos at worldculturenet.com — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:42:27 +0000

[...] On November 1st and 2nd, many countries celebrate All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In some Latin American countries, the day is known as Los Dias de los Muertos (“The Days of the Dead”). In Mexico, these days have become a spectacular national holiday. Unlike many All Souls’ Days celebration, in Mexico, Los Dias de los Muertos is a colorful, joyful time of parades and festivities. People dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons and parade through the town carrying open coffins. The “corpse” inside the coffin smiles as it is carried through the streets, and local vendors toss oranges inside as the procession makes its way past their markets. Lucky “corpses” may also be showered with flowers, fruits, and candies. There are skeletons, skulls and coffins made of chocolate and marzipan, and special loaves of sweet bread, called “pan de muertos,” decorated with “bones.” Handmade skeleton figurines, called “calacas,” are seen everywhere. These skeletons have an active life: they are musicians, brides or generals on horseback. Death has many nick-names: La Catrina, la Flaca, la Huesuda, la Pelona–Fancy Lady, Skinny, Bony, Baldy. [...]

By: All Souls’ Day (Defuncts’ Day) « WorldCultureNet

All Souls’ Day (Defuncts’ Day) « WorldCultureNet — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:24:02 +0000

[...] All Souls’ Day originated in the ancient pagan Festival of the Dead, whose traditions also inform the secular holiday of Halloween. The Festival of the Dead was based on the pre-Christian belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles were placed in the window to guide the souls back home, and families set an extra place at the table for the returning souls. [...]

By: Los Dias de los Muertos « WorldCultureNet

Los Dias de los Muertos « WorldCultureNet — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:22:39 +0000

[...] On November 1st and 2nd, many countries celebrate All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In some Latin American countries, the day is known as Los Dias de los Muertos (“The Days of the Dead”). In Mexico, these days have become a spectacular national holiday. Unlike many All Souls’ Days celebration, in Mexico, Los Dias de los Muertos is a colorful, joyful time of parades and festivities.People dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons and parade through the town carrying open coffins. The “corpse” inside the coffin smiles as it is carried through the streets, and local vendors toss oranges inside as the procession makes its way past their markets. Lucky “corpses” may also be showered with flowers, fruits, and candies. There are skeletons, skulls and coffins made of chocolate and marzipan, and special loaves of sweet bread, called “pan de muertos,” decorated with “bones.” Handmade skeleton figurines, called “calacas,” are seen everywhere. These skeletons have an active life: they are musicians, brides or generals on horseback. Death has many nick-names: La Catrina, la Flaca, la Huesuda, la Pelona–Fancy Lady, Skinny, Bony, Baldy. [...]

By: The Origin of the Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Tradition « WorldCultureNet

The Origin of the Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Tradition « WorldCultureNet — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:58:19 +0000

[...] In America, families carve jack-o-lanterns – lanterns made from carved pumpkins and display them to celebrate Halloween. [...]