Halloween and All Souls Day Culture

 

(I googled "Halloween in Spanish" to find a special activity for the last week in October/first week in November...feel free to do the same)

 

CULTURE:

The word Halloween is a contraction (Hallow'een) of "The eve of All Hallowed" or "All Hallows Eve" and means the evening before All Saints Day (Hallow-ed (or sainted, revered) and een from eve - even - evening)

American Halloween is October 31st, and is generally known as "Noche de las Brujas" (Night of the Witches)...

All Saints Day is November first (Dia de Todos los Santos)

All Souls Day is November second (D�a de Los Muertos)

***In Spanish culture, this is a joyous and happy holiday time when they remember friends and family who have died. Officially commemorated on November 2 (All Souls' Day), the three-day celebration actually begins on the evening of October 31. Designed to honor the dead who are believed to return to their homes on Halloween, many families construct an altar in their home and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, fresh water and samples of the deceased's favorite foods and drinks. Frequently, a basin and towel are left out in order that the spirit can wash prior to indulging in the feast. Candles are incense are burned to help the departed find his or her way home. 

***Relatives also tidy the grave sites of deceased family members, including snipping weeds, making repairs and painting. The grave is then adorned with flowers, wreaths or paper streamers. 

**They may enjoy fresh sweet bread and often have gatherings with friends and family to remember their loved ones.  On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and reminisce. Some of these gatherings may even include a mariachi band.   

***Often, a live person is placed inside a coffin which is then paraded through the city streets while vendors toss fruit, flowers and candies into the casket. 

***In Mexico, during Autumn, countless numbers of Monarch butterflies return to the shelter of Mexico's oyamel fir trees. It was the belief of the Aztecs that these butterflies bore the spirits of dead ancestors. 

***American Halloween customs are gradually being seen during this celebration, such as children wearing costumes.  Some of the adults there do not care for this, as it is an American custom, and not the point of Dia de los muertos. 

ACTIVITIES for "American" Halloween:

LOWER:  ~there is a song sheet (in yellow file folder) you can copy for the kids (if you want) and sing

~you can give them a jack-o-lantern pic you draw, or let them draw one, and talk about the parts of the face.  "La calabaza tiene dos ojos, un nariz...no tiene pelo..." etc --- "The jack-o-lantern has 2 eyes, one nose...it doesn't have hair..." etc. (paper in lower cabinet under counter)

UPPER:  ~there is a song sheet you can copy for the kids (if you want) and sing, challenge them to do it with energy, without you!

~you can have the kids draw "monsters" ( write "El Monstruo tiene..."---"The Monster has...") and label body parts (like tres ojos rojos---3 red eyes)

---you can have them read one phrase to the class, showing their drawing.  Example:  "Mi/el monstruo tiene cuatro brazos"---"My monster has four arms." (paper in lower cabinet under counter)

ACTIVITIES for Dia de los Muertos:

LOWER:  ~you could purchase colored tissue and pipe cleaners and make paper flowers; they could even be given as gifts to friends or another class or parents!

Tissue Paper Flowers


  • Colored tissue paper
  • Pipe Cleaners
  • Scissors
  • Ruler

How to make it:

  1. Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size (5x7" is the size pictured).
  2. Stack 4-6 pieces of tissue paper. Use the same color or different colors.
  3. Accordion pleat the tissue paper working from the long side.
  4. Wind one end of the pipe cleaner around the middle of the accordion pleated tissue paper.
  5. Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower.
  6. Let the children make several if there is time.  They can give them as gifts!

UPPER:  ~you could do the above activity and/or

~you could have students draw their version of what a celebration for dia de los muertos might look like, based on your description---kids could share what they drew at the end, and you could count how many facts they remembered from your little culture talk (paper in lower cabinet under counter)