During years, I celebrated Halloween at school. We used to paint pumpkins or draw them, then brought them home and put them on our doors. We also played the typical " Treat or trick" and just in some cases we wore a witch costume or a gohst costume. And when I was I child I saw films where the children went house by house asking for sweets and I just wanted to celebrate Halloween in that way, in the way Americans used to celebrate it.
Nowadays people has commercialized this tradition and, from my point of view, they do this just for money.
Now you can find Halloween things at the supermarket, such as sweet boxes or pies with pumpkin shapes; there are also some advertisements on TV that announce this kind of products or fancy dresses.
People in Spain has adapted this tradition, but what I always wonder which is the real meaning of this celebration. It is called, at least in Spain, "Witches' night"... And the day after it is "All saints day", and everybody goes to the cementry to bring flowers to their relatives....
I just cannot understand it.
I don't really know the history behind Halloween in the United States at all. I agree though that the holiday is very commercialized. Many people especially girls spend a lot of money on costumes that they only wear one time. I try to make costumes out of things I have at home or cheaper clothes. I do really enjoy the holiday though. It's fun to dress up and go to parties and have themed food. This year I am hoping to go to a haunted house or at least a scary movie! I do wish Halloween was on a weekend not a Monday though!
ResponderEliminarIt's really interesting how Halloween traditions differ in different countries. Is Halloween called The Day of the Dead in Spain? What kinds of things did you do this year to celebrate? My friends and I have been watching scary movies a lot and we received goody bags with candy in them, so that is always nice!
ResponderEliminarHi Alba,
ResponderEliminarI am ProfesoraIowa, the professor of the Iowa students in our blog project. I did not know that there was any kind of Halloween celebration in Spain, so thank you for the information! The word "Halloween" means "All Hallows Evening," which is another way of saying that it is the night before All Saints Day (since saints are hallowed, which means holy). It is a combination of pagan customs (protecting people from evil spirits) and Christian traditions. The Day of the Dead is actually the day after All Saints Day -- on November 2, which in the Christian calendar is All Souls Day. This is the day when people remember their relatives who have died. It is interesting how pagan and Christian and secular traditions all come together. If you want to go from house to house to ask for candy, you will have to study in the United States -- you should try to study for a year here with ISEP.
Muchos saludos,
ProfesoraIowa (aka Judy Liskin-Gasparro)