By Eduardo Morales, Ph.D.–
The word Halloween originates from the phrase “All Hallows’ Eve” and dates back to ancient times after the Romans conquered the Celts. At the festival of Samhain, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. Then the Catholic Church, through Pope Gregory II, began to recognize November 1 as All Saints’ Day incorporating some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before All Saints’ Day was known as All Hallows Eve, which was later called Halloween.
Three consecutive days seem to represent the fine line between the living and the dead for most Latin cultures. How these days are celebrated throughout Latin America varies by nation. Countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Peru celebrate Halloween in the same way as in North America. Although traditions vary, the idea is that Halloween is meant to ward off spirits or ghosts that might interfere with the honoring of All Saints on November 1.
Most cities throughout Latin America have a unique patron saint and they celebrate it with their Fiesta Patronales or patron saint festival. However, All Saints Day on November 1 is the day to honor all saints collectively. Each saint represents some specific virtue, and commemorating all saints on November 1st tries to incorporate the positive virtues that these saints represent.
November 2 is considered by the Catholic Church as All Souls’ Day to honor all the people who have passed on to another life. Commemorating and honoring those who have died is the idea of All Souls’ Day by the Catholic Church. Given that many Latin American countries are Christian, including Catholic, they follow traditions led by the Catholic Church that bring people together to remember those who have touched their lives.
Día de Los Muertos, translated as Day of the Dead, dates back to ancient Aztec festivals. This term is commonly used by Mexicans in connection with honoring those who have passed with brightly colored skulls, vibrant costumes and music. The use of different colored skulls seems to remind them of the boundary between life and death, as they see death as a transition to another life.
Families in Mexico build altars to the dead in their homes or in communal gathering places to honor deceased relatives and friends. They decorate altars with items that represent what they remember most about these individuals.
In Peru, people celebrate on the same day as Halloween Día de la Cancion Criolla, which translates to Day of the Creole Song. Peruvians tend to place great importance on their traditions and culture which includes music. Creole music is a combination of African, Spanish and indigenous influences including the Marinera dance, which is said to be the national dance of Peru.
People in Colombia use this time to honor those who have passed on as angels who bring blessings to the family. Their traditions may include children earning a little extra money by singing “Tintililillo,” which means five pesos for my pocket. This tradition practices values such as coexistence, solidarity and a sense of belonging that are important for children to learn.
In general, most Latin American cultures honor these days in joyful, unique ways—rather than sad and comforting—in memory of those who have passed. This is a time to gather with friends and family and is rooted in their indigenous cultures and traditions.
The city of San Francisco has its own traditions for these days. AGUILAS will be having a Halloween party on Thursday, October 27th at the SF LGBT Center from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The Marigold Project will observe Día de Los Muertos with an altar festival on November 2nd at 5:00 PM that can be viewed on their YouTube channel as well as Facebook.
The Annual Day of the Dead Procession in San Francisco usually takes place on November 2 and is a project of El Colectivo del Rescate Cultural founded by Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, who died on December 26. SOMArts, in an observation founded by curator Rio Yañez with co-curator Anaís Azul, merges traditional altars with contemporary installations and is a gathering of multi-generational memory, while asserting the role of art as a platform for collective action. The de Young Museum is scheduled to celebrate Día de Los Muertos on October 29 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm with a performance by Cuicacalli in Wilsey Court.
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is professor emeritus, retired distinguished professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is a licensed psychologist and the Executive Director of AGUILAS, which he helped found. AGUILAS is an award-winning Latinx LGBTQ+ program. Of Puerto Rican descent, Morales has received numerous honors, including being named a member of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
Our voice
Published on October 20, 2022
