Halloween in Mexico

Halloween is less than a week away, and both kids and adults are hurrying to make and purchase costumes for their parties. I have not attended a Halloween party for a few years, but the last one I attended was a memorable one. The year was 2007 and I was living in Mexico.

Mexicans do not celebrate Halloween traditionally, although they celebrate a holiday around the same time with supernatural themes known as the ?Day of the Dead,? or ?Día de los Muertos? in Spanish. The celebration starts Nov. 1 with All Saints? Day and continues the following day with the Day of the Dead, which is also All Souls? Day.

The principal custom associated with the Day of the Dead is the construction of an altar to honor loved ones who have passed away. This is done by placing candies in the shape of skulls as well as flowers on the altar, which can be at a cemetery or in the family?s home. Families of the deceased often place foods and beverages that the person enjoyed during their lifetime. The idea is to encourage the souls of the deceased to visit the living and then eat the spiritual essence of the food.

Some Mexicans have begun to celebrate Halloween, too, largely through American influence, I would guess. My Mexican friends were gracious enough to host a costume party for us gringos. The only trouble was I didn?t have a disguise, so I wasn?t planning to go. I lived with a Mexican family who had a son who was a skilled makeup artist. I learned that he worked on the set of the movie Apocalypto doing the actors? makeup. He offered to turn me into a ghost, and I gladly accepted.

?Wow! I went from having no costume to having what will be the best costume at the party!? I thought.

It took my Mexican host brother 30 minutes to apply the necessary face paint, and about that long for me to wash it off afterward. My friends were all impressed. My roommate and his friend wore sombreros and fake mustaches, imitating Mexican revolutionaries Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Their costumes were good, but not as good as mine. I?m certain I scared more people than anyone else at that costume party.