I really like Halloween. I love trick-or-treating, hanging out with my friends late on a school night, dressing up all silly/scary, and carving crazy-scary faces into pumpkins. Lol . I never realized how different Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Halloween were.
 
October first is actually an old religious holiday the Romans would celebrate by making sacrifices to the God of the dead, Samhain. Trick-or-treating originated back in Ireland hundreds of years ago. Irish farmers would beg their neighbors and townspeople for food to give to the God's in name of Halloween. The jack-o-lantern is also Irish. It was the symbol of a damned soul. A man named Jack wasn't able to enter heaven because he wasn't a Christian. Nor was he able to enter hell because he had played jokes on the devil. As a result, he was condemned to walk over the earth at night with his lantern until judgment day (the end of the world). The Irish were so afraid that they would get the destiny, so they began to carve out pumpkins and put lighted candles inside to scare away evil spirits and protect themselves.

Dia de los Muertos began way back when as the Spanish conquistadors landed in what is present-day Mexico. the found natives almost 'mocking' the dead. The Spanish conquistadors later found this was a sign of mourning and respect of their ancestors, so they passed on the traditional holiday. It is today celebrated with the wearing of wooden skull masks, calacas. They are also placed on alters and shrines for the deceased. Grave sites and cemeteries are decorated with skulls, picture frames, gifts, and flowers. Also scarfs and blouses are presented to ancestors. Toys are given to deceased children.

 As most people see death as the end of life, the ancient Aztecs saw it as the beginning or contribution of life. The never feared it, but respected it and embraced it. To make the holiday more religious and christian like they moved the day to November first and second, All Saints' Day.

I think i may actually start to celebrate Dia de los Muertos now. It seems like a pretty cool holiday to me. Maybe, if you don't already, you should, too!

Until next time,
-me.