Goody-bye Halloween

[Rapunzel]

My Mexican mother-in-law has pointed out that among hispanic Catholics "Halloween" IS a religious celebration of a sort in preparation for the following religious observance on November 1st.

I do think that Halloween, Christmas, Easter, St. Valentine's Day, etc, have become more cultural than religious - but the same argument against the celebration of one "religious" holiday is easily applied to all of the others. Without consistancy we easily encounter the problem of favoritism (or the appearance thereof). It's a conundrum, granted, but I understand the logic behind it - and, for that reason, I'm just waiting for Thanksgiving to be removed from the public school arena sometime soon as well....

Jennifer

Day of the Dead and Halloween are completely separate holidays. Many traditional cities in Mexico have banned the celebration of Halloween as it interferes with their own cultural celebrations. But similar to our pagan-Christian holidays (like Christmas and Easter), Day of the Dead has indigenous roots and was moved to coincide with All Saint's Day to make it more Christian by the Spaniards.

[Rapunzel]

You're right, Day of the Dead is not the same as Halloween in the strictest sense. In Mexico proper it IS very different. In areas of the U.S. with large Mexican populations (such as where I grew up) the two ARE associated with one another and somewhat "mixed" for convenience. My mother-in-law, for example will relate the two. For many Mexicans that I know, Halloween is a cheap imitation of the Day of the Dead, but an imitation nonetheless (regardless of if you agree with that sentiment personally).

Jennifer