Activity

My pain is deep because my dear dog is dead,
my dear dog is dead,my pain is deep 

Statistics

We did surveys in a group of english students about what they think about Day of the dead and Halloween. The goal is to find out what students think about these traditions.

English learners who are studying in CAALE and our group ranging from ages 15+. Our total group was 30 people. We formed age groups according the range of age of the respondents. The age groups are: 15-17, 18-20, 21-23, 24-26 and >26

In the following chart shows the number of women and men who participated in the survey

Figure 1: Number of men and woman according age group

Our survey consist in different questions related to the topic. In the following charts shows the percent of people that are agree with each question.

The second part of our survey were multiple choice questions:

Why do you think Day of the Dead is important?

The majority of respondents(83%) thinks Day of the Dead is important because it is a Mexican tradition, 10% thinks is important because their parents says it, 4% thinks it is funny and 3% do not know why they celebrate Day of the Dead

At home, do you set altars?

63% of respondents said that in their house they set altars, 27% said sometimes set altars and 10% never set altars at home

Do you visit family graves every year?

43% of respondents visit family graves every year, 47% sometimes visit graves, only 10% never visit family graves.

Do you think it is wrong that children learn about Halloween?

23% of respondents said it is wrong because our traditions get lost, 23% thinks that each person it is free to choose what their children learn, 23%  do not care this, and majority (31%) thinks it is ok as long as they remember their traditions

In the third part of our survey were open questions. We asked about items that are set in altars and most people answered: Favorite food and drinks of the deceased, incense, tequila, candles, salt, photos, water, flowers, candy skulls, hojaldras and fruit. Another question was about the character most representative for this tradition but only one person knowed about this character ("La Catrina").

The goal of these questions was know about the knowledge of people about the Day of the Dead.

Map Halloween vs Day of the dead

Day of the Dead & Halloween

1. What's the origin of the word 'Halloween'?

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year.

The name, Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland, means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown.Also, Halloween, the foremost and momentous holiday of the Celtic year, was also popularly known as Samhain or Sah-ween. According to the belief of Celts, the ghosts of the dead populace could easily and effortlessly mingle with the  citizens . 

It was believed that at that point of time the souls of the dead men/women moved to the other world. All of them who had died were honored by lighting the bonfires. Huge crowd congregated to sacrifice fruits, vegetables and even animals to aid them on their journey to the different world. It was also important to satisfy the dead souls as they could not come close to the living individuals.

And traditionally is a holiday that is meant to ward off evil spirits. During the time of the Celtic traditions, people would carve out scary faces and figures in giant turnips, place a candle inside, and set in their windows to scare away evil ghosts and enemies on Halloween.

Behind the name, Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland, means All Hallows Ev, or the night before the All Hallows, also called All Hallowmas, or All Saints, or All Soul's day, observed on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown.

2. Describe at least 3 superstitions releated to this festivity

• BLACK CAT black cats are seen as bad luck. They are associated with witches and in many  times it is believed that if a black cat crosses your path is a sign of disaster or even death.
• SPIDER if you see a spider on Halloween, you can be the esiritu of a loved one
• BAT If a bat flies above your house in halloween day means that the house is haunted 

Always burn new candles on Halloween to ensure the best of luck. It is not a good idea to burn Halloween candles to any other time of the year. It may bring bad luck or strange things will happen to you, over which you will have no control. 

If you hear footsteps trailing close behind you on Halloween night, do not to turn around to see who is it, for it may be Death himself! To look Death in the eye, acording to ancient folklore, is a sure way to hasten your own demise. 

The old Celtic custom was to light great bonfires on Halloween, and after these had burned out to make a circle of the ashes of each fire. Within this circle, and near the circumference, each member of the various families that had helped to make a fire would place a pebble. If, on the next day, any stone was displaced, or had been damaged, it was considered to be an indication that the one to whom the stone belonged would die within twelve months. 

According to an old English folk belief, you will invite bad luck into your home if you allow a fire to burnout on Halloween. To remedy the situation, the fire must be rekindled by a lighted sod brought from the home of a priest. 

Black cat: The black color of cats can be associated and linked with the darkness of nights. Certainly, this doesn’t help to improve their image. The black color has always been allied with evil as well. Long time back, Europeans predominantly were the firm believers of pagan religions. Witchcraft was a very popular belief. They were closely attached with nature and animals like cat. Gradually, Christian religion came into the picture. Church decided to Christianize everyone. According to their well made plans they marked witchcraft as evil and since then cats are attributes to witches. It was believed that evil witches can shape themselves up into cats. So, both the witches and cats should be treated severely. Even though European countries had treated cats badly but a lot of cultures gave cats the respect that they deserve (like Egyptians, Japanese or Russian).

3. Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween? 

Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.

According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. 

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. 

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits.

In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns

The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” Jack tricked the devil for a long time. Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.” In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns.

4. Explain how to cook a typical Halloween dish

CARAMEL APPLES

Buy apples because they are season

Wash and disinfect

Make the caramel: put sugar in hot water and stir until a thick consistency

Introducing apples Decorate with dolls

Cake: People often made cake offerings to dieties to remove their evil influence. They also offered cake to spirits of the dead, believing that the cakes would nourish them during their long journey to the otherworld.

Recipe:

INGREDIENTS

  For the cake: 

• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 1 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Salt
• 1 stick plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 5 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

  For the ganache:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate malt balls, coarsely chopped
• Rubber cockroaches, for garnish

*Cooks note: Decorated cake can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, but the ganache will not be as shiny. Bring to room temperature before serving.

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Coat two 9-inch cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment, and coat with spray. Dust with all-purpose flour, tapping out excess. Whisk together flours, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt.
2. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Beat in melted chocolate. Divide batter between pans, and smooth tops using an offset spatula.
3. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Beat in melted chocolate. Divide batter between pans, and smooth tops using an offset spatula.
4. Make the ganache: Bring cream to a gentle simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour over chopped chocolates and butter in a bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth and shiny. Let stand until thickened, about 40 minutes. Transfer 1 3/4 cups ganache to a bowl, and fold in malt balls; reserve remaining ganache.
5. Transfer 1 cake to a serving platter (top side up). Spread ganache-malt ball filling on top, and top with remaining cake (top side up). Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Cut a large wedge from cake to serve on another plate. Pour remaining ganache (reheat if necessary) over cake and wedge, and let drip down sides and into cut center of cake. Garnish cake and platter with rubber cockroaches.

Recipe by Martha Stewart

5. What's the origin of the celebration Day of the Dead?

Dia de los Muertos originated centuries ago in Mexico, where it is still widely celebrated to this day. The holiday is a blend of pre-Hispanic indigenous beliefs and Spanish Catholic beliefs. 

Dia de los Muertos is a holiday for remembering and honoring those who have passed. It is a festive, joyous time of celebration. Day of the Dead is Mexico's most important holiday, which means they invest a lot of time and money into celebrating Dia de los Muertos, moreso than any other holiday

Dia de los Muertos history can be traced back to these indigenous beliefs of the afterlife. Once a year the Aztecs held a festival celebrating the death of their ancestors, while honoring the goddess Mictecacihuatl, Queen of the Underworld, or Lady of the Dead. The Aztecs believed that the deceased preferred to be celebrated, rather than mourned, so during the festival they first honored los angelitos, the deceased children, then those who passed away as adults. 

The Mictecacihuatl festival lasted for an entire month, starting around the end of July to mid-August (the 9th month on the Aztec calendar), during the time of corn harvests. 

After the spaniards conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they tried to make the Aztecs adopt their Catholic beliefs but they failed. 

The Spanish conquerors succeeding in shortening the length of the Mictecacihuatl festival to two days that conveniently corresponded with two of their own Catholic holidays: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which take place on November 1 and 2 of each year.However, the native folk customs and traditions prevailed. Over the centuries, these traditions transformed into the present Day of the Dead.

Gravestone in shape of Aztec skull rack
Photo © Thelmadatter

6. What does Day of the Dead traditions consist on? 

The Day of the Dead falls on November 1 and 2 of each year, coinciding with the Catholic holidays All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. 

Although November 2nd is the official date for Day of the Dead, it is celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd. 

Usually the preparations (and some festivities) start even earlier than that. So really, the "Day" of the Dead can also be called the "Days" of the Dead, because the holiday spans more than one day. Traditionally, November 1 is the day for honoring dead children and infants, and November 2 is the day for honoring deceased adults.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in both public and private spaces. It is most often celebrated in homes and graveyards.         

• In homes, people create altars to honor their deceased loved ones. In some places it is common to allow guests to enter the house to view the altar.
• In graveyards, families clean the graves of their loved ones, which they then decorate with flowers, photos, candles, foods and drinks. People stay up all night in the graveyards, socializing and telling funny stories about their dead ancestors. Musicians are hired to stroll through the graveyard, playing the favorite songs of the dead.       
• In the public sphere, Day of the Dead celebrations can also take the form of street parties, parades, and festivals on university campuses.

7. Which elements should an altar have?

•        Candles
Fresh flowers or flower petals (cempazuchitl or cloud)
Photographs of the deceased, along with other memories
Food and favorite beverages of the departed
Frankincense reverence
Water
Sugar skulls
Pan de muerto (hojaldra)

     Saints 

       Salt

• Photos of saints of particular importance to the family
• Candles
• Pan de muertos (Bread of the dead), favorite food and drink of the deceased like tamales, mole or beer, also sweets
• Flowers ("the flowers of the dead" or marigolds)
• Skeleton dolls and toys (for children) 

8. What's the meaning of each of this elements?

•        Candles: light the way
Fresh flowers or flower petals (cempazuchitl or cloud): festival
Photographs of the deceased, along with other memories
Food and favorite beverages of the departed (lovingly prepared)
Frankincense reverence
Water: purity
Sugar skulls:
Pan de muerto (hojaldra): Body of the deceased
Saints relationship between life and death

•      Salt: tranquility

The day of the dead is a Mexican tradition in which they believed that their familiars come to visit them that day, so, they leave their favorite food and drink of the deceased. 'Pan de muertos' represents the body of the deceased. Also they leave dolls and toys if the deceased was a child. The photos are placed to the person who is offering altar. Candles are for guiding the path. 

9. What are the main symbols of Day of the Dead?

The most important simbol is "la Catrina". Even the old Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl found a new identity as the modern "Catrina" the lanky, skeletal female figure bedecked in sumptuous clothing and giant ornate hats, who serves as a reminder that death is a fate that even the rich can't avoid.

The most important simbol is "la Catrina". Even the old Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl found a new identity as the modern "Catrina" the lanky, skeletal female figure bedecked in sumptuous clothing and giant ornate hats, who serves as a reminder that death is a fate that even the rich can't avoid. 

Statue of Catrina,
Lady of the Dead
Photo credit

ORANGE answer by Angelica

PURPLE answer by Celina