Individual questionnaire - Itza

1. What’s the origin of the word “Halloween”?

It is thought to have been originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween.

Behind the name, Halloween, or the Halloween 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 1st. In old English, the word 'Hallows' meant 'sanctify'.

2. Describe at least 3 superstitions related to this festivity.

It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world. Today’s Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too.

We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats. We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred; it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe. And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.

3. Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween?

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.

Nowadays the turnips have been replaced by orange pumpkins, but the carving tradition is still continued, as well as lighting the pumpkins on the night of Halloween.

4. Explain how to cook a typical Halloween dish.

Toffee Apple: (Australia when celebrated, England, Wales and Scotland, instead of "Candy Apples") The most common "candy" is a hard coating of cooled sugar syrup, usually tinted red and

sometimes flavored with cinnamon. The sugar syrup is heated to the "hard crack" stage before coating the apple to make a hard coating when the syrup cools.

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

Día 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.

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

Common Day of the Dead traditions include creating altars to honor the dead, laying out offerings, sharing stories of the deceased, as well as cleaning and decorating gravesites. Because Day of the Dead is a very festive, creative holiday, current Day of the Dead customs also include festivals, parades, and the making of Día de los Muertos crafts.

7. Which elements should an altar have?

• candles

• fresh flowers or flowers petals (usually marigolds)

• photographs of the deceased, along with other memorabilia

• the favorite foods and drinks of the deceased (lovingly-prepared)

• incense

• water

• sugar skulls

• pan de muerto (bread of the dead)

• statues of saints

8. What is the meaning of each of these elements?

• Candles - Candles are lit to welcome the spirits back to their altars.

• Marigolds - These yellow-orange flowers, also called cempasúchitl, symbolize death. Their strong fragrance also help lead the dead back to their altars. Marigold petals may also be sprinkled on the floor in front of the altar, or even sprinkled along a path from the altar to the front door, so that the spirit may find its way inside.

• Incense - Most commonly, copal incense, which is the dried aromatic resin from a native tree from Mexico. The scent is also said to guide the spirits back to their altars

• Salt - represents the continuance of life.

• Photo of the deceased - A framed photo of the dead person to whom the altar is dedicated, usually positioned in a prime spot on the altar.

• Pan de muerto - Also known as "bread of the dead", pan de muerto is a symbol of the departed.

• Sugar skulls - As symbols of death and the afterlife, sugar skulls are not only given as gifts to the living during Day of the Dead, they are also placed as offerings on the altar.

• Fresh fruit - whatever is in season — oranges, bananas, etc.

• Other food - Traditional Day of the Dead food that you would find on altars includes atole, mole, tamales, and tortillas. Altars also usually include the dead person's favorite food, including modern food like Rice Krispies or potato chips!

• Water - Souls are thirsty after their long journey from the Other Side, so they appreciate a glass of water upon arrival.

• Items that once belonged to the deceased - Mementos and other things the dead person enjoyed in life are laid out on the altar, and often new things are bought too.

• Images of saints - or other role models who were important in the dead person's life.

• Papel picado - These decorative pieces of cut paper are draped around the altar's edge or hung from above.

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

Calaveras- Mischievous Dead

Calaveras (skulls) are probably the most recognizable emblems of the Day of the Dead. Calaveras are whimsical caricatures-most commonly drawings- of skulls or skeletons.

Calacas: Like Calaveras, Calacas are mischievous renditions of skeletal figures. Calacas include paper mache skull masks and figurines of popular calaveras, such as Catrina.

Sugar Skulls: A common rendition of the Calaveras come in the form of sugar skulls Ofrendas: Perhaps the most serious emblem of the holiday is the Ofrenda, an altar

honoring the dead. Ofrendas are most often created in honor of one’s ancestors or loved ones,

Papel picado