Wednesday, November 01, 2006

"Queremos Halloween"

I survived Halloween 2006. I swear we get more Halloween living out of the States than we would if we lived in the States, but maybe I'm wrong. The last time we were living in the States for Halloween was when Margarita (8 years old) was 2.

From my childhood, I remember having a little party at school the day of Halloween and then trick-or-treating that evening. Here, we had 3 different Halloween parties (outside of school), two rounds of trick-or-treating, one round of trunk-or-treating, and of course the school parties. By the end of last night I was exhausted.

So, as sick as I am of all things Halloween, I had to do a post on it because No Cool Story wanted a report on Halloween in Mexico. Mexico doesn't "officially" celebrate Halloween, but Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and Dia de los NiƱos Muertos (Day of the Dead Children. Sounds a little morbid, don't you think?). I like these holidays; families remember those that have gone on before them and leave out offerings of things they liked (like food and such) in a kind of shrine presentation. Here is a picture of the "ofrendas" in our building:



But, I have to report that Halloween is alive and well here in Big City. The stores are filled with pumpkins, ghosts, spiders and lots of snack-sized candies. All of these decorations were purchased here in Big City:

My cool ceramic pumpkins and Halloween lights:



A fine variety of gourds (and some more ceramic pumpkins):



Spider webs and Halloween garland:


So, I was thinking, well, maybe just the commercialization of Halloween has struck our neighbors to the South, but then last night as we were out and about driving I was shocked to see TONS of little Mexicans (and some much older ones) dressed up as little devils and ghosts walking through the streets with a loot bag in their hands. So, it's not just the foreigners that are doing the Halloween thing.

Here's a picture of some authentic Mexican trick-or-treaters. It's not that great, but I was driving at the time and I almost got in a crash taking this pic, so I didn't think I had better push my luck trying to get something better:



They don't say "Trick-or-Treat" though. They either just say "Halloween!" or "Queremos Halloween!" (We want/love Halloween! )

Here are my little goblins at our ward party:



And some of the crappy candy we got trick-or-treating (most all of it is "enchilado" or chilied-up. Blaahhhh!) The maid is going to go home with a lot of candy this week. Hopefully that will keep her off of my ice cream:



After we got done trick-or-treating last night, Margarita, distraught with the ratio of American to Mexican candy she received asked,

"Why can't we just be normal Americans?"

I said, "We are normal Americans."

To which she replied, "Then why can't we just live in our country? My whole bag would be filled with good candy if we lived there!"

Then I told her about the mean Americans who who hand out raisins.

Hope everyone had a safe, fun night!

15 comments:

Deannna - Younique Presenter said...

your bag of candy looks a lot like mine! I love your decorations. I have one terra cotta pumpkin but didn't bother buying anything else. So we just hung up the stuff the kids made at school. We are living the same life!

Anonymous said...

Same comments from my son on the candy thing. "My bag doesn't have yummy candy, Mom!"

Your kids have grown! Love the terracota pumpkins.

Gabriela said...

Ok, so they're terracota. Ceramic, terracota, what's the difference??? :)

the lizness said...

"We love Halloween" I like that!

Super Happy Girl said...

So, as sick as I am of all things Halloween, I had to do a post on it because No Cool Story wanted a report on Halloween in Mexico. Amiga, you are the bestest BOFF to EVER to ever lived in Blogtopia. Maybe I should make you a Super Happy Girl crown on something awe-inspiring like that.

I was here, reading your post in silence (smiling all the way through) until the end, when I let this big roaring laughter (and my familia are like "what the heck? oooh....blogging”).
Who invented all the ‘enchilado’ stuff? My best friend in Mexico loves all that, when I visited in August I actually took a picture of her, in the candy aisle, the nasty candy aisle, and her smiling all proud.

I like your decorations, I should buy something terracotaish (or ceramic-ish)
Your report and pictures were awesome. I give them an A+++

Gabriela said...

NCS: It's enough to know that I made you laugh, let's leave Scary Girl out of this!

What the heck is on her head today?

As to the enchilado-ed candy, there is a rumor? fact? amongst the Americans here that it causes lead poisoning. Do you know anything about this?

Erickson Family said...

I totally think it causes lead poisening -- it is disgusting! I'll never forget the look on my 2 year old's face after a night of Mexican trick-or-treating. She put a candy in her mouth and then started choking and gagging because it had chile in the middle of it. HMMMMMMMM -- whoever thought chile & dulce mixed together would be good? Give me chocolate anyday.

Tell your daughter here in the states she could end up with Smarties and Dum Dum suckers.

Love your Halloween pics! (Esp the one from the car)

Millie said...

My kids would be howling in dismay if they got any of that Mexican candy. I think it's funny that the Mexicanos have adopted it (and that you're giving the maid your candy). The whole post was cute, but I loved the picture of you in the mirror.

Super Happy Girl said...

BOFF: That was no heck on her head, it was her Halloween costume: "road kill hat" :)

I have heard about the lead poisoning too, I don’t know if it’s true, but I know this much, that those 'candies' have NO reason to be called "candies" or to be sold to people or to even exist.
They are poison I tell you.

Anne/kq said...

Some Mexican candies cause lead poisoning. Stay away from the ones with "silicone dioxide" (aka GLASS) in them (added for a "bite"), they're the most likely culprits.

Most of them aren't technically supposed to be sold in the U.S., but I guess no one told the vendors down on Olvera Street about that. So I stick with the home-made dulces de calabasas (my favorite, and my two-year-old daughter's, too, so we have to buy three times as much as I would want or she'll eat it all and I get none.)

We live in California and still got quite a bit of Mexican candy, btw. But to make up for it, we did have plenty of Tootsie Rolls (the popular item this year) and a few full-size Snickers and Milky Ways.

Amanda said...

Hi Gabriela, I came over here from NCS's blog. I loved your halloween post and read the one about your maid too. Too funny! I laughed so hard. I liked the raisin comment. My kids actually got raisins this year. LOL

Gabriela said...

Handiemom: yes, I will take chocolate over chilefied candy any day.

Hi Millie!

NCS: have I told you who Scary Girl reminds me of? Remember Pheobe's work of art, "Gladys", who was followed by "Gywneth"?

Anne/KQ: thanks for the info! I heart tootsie rolls, they are the best!

Amanda: Hi! Nice to meet you.

Lei said...

"Hopefully that will keep her off my icecream"

ROFL!

Anonymous said...

Gabs-the kids look so cute. My girls were witches too.
Hope Margarita got at least a few Reeses or something of the sort.

Anonymous said...

Oh That was perfect what you told her!! There are those meaner ones who hand out PENNIES! LOL! I am so glad we didn't hit any of those houses this year.