The word Halloween originated in the 18th century from a Scottish term meaning "hallowed evening" or "holy evening". It refers to All Hallows' Eve, the evening before All Saints' Day. Common Halloween superstitions include that black cats are associated with darkness and burning jack-o-lanterns keeps evil spirits away. People carve pumpkins because the Irish brought that tradition to America where it became associated with Halloween. A typical Halloween dish is a graveyard cake made to look like a cemetery with cookies as gravestones and candy as remains. Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated in early November that combines Catholic traditions with Aztec beliefs, honoring deceased loved ones with altars of photos

1. Individual questionnaire - Ricardo
1. What’s the origin of the word “Halloween”?
The word Halloween was originated about 1745, it had a Christian origin
meaning "hallowed evening" or "holy evening". It comes from a Scottish term for
All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day).
2. Describe at least 3 superstitions related to this festivity.
* Various regions think that black cats have supernatural power and are very
dangerous because people believe that black cats are associated with various
other unnecessary dark things.
* The second superstition is related with jack-o-lantern some people thing that
burning a candle inside a jack-o-lantern on Halloween keeps evil spirits and
demons away.
*And finally, the superstition is amazing because some people says that if a
person born on Halloween can both see and talk to spirits.
3. Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween?
Because Irish have a legend named Jack-o-lanterns, so when they migrated to
America Irish brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it
became an integral part of Halloween festivities.
4. Explain how to cook a typical Halloween dish.
One of the common dish on America in Halloween is graveyard Cake, it´s easy
and delicious. To make this dish first bake a chocolate cake, second top with
softened chocolate wafer cookies to look like finely ground dirt and sprinkle over
ice-cream, third stick loll snakes into the cake, half-in and half-out, after stick
oval cookies into the cake to make gravestones. Write funny names on the
"graves" with piping bags and last refreeze before serving so the ice cream
doesn't melt.
5. What’s the origin of the celebration Day of the Dead?
The day of the dead is similar with the Catholic observation of All Saint’s Day.
It’s origin because is a holiday that combines elements of Catholicism with
ancient Aztec symbolism, and honors the spirits of departed ancestors and
loved ones who are believed to return to earth to join in the celebrations. It’s a
celebration similar to Halloween but is more cultural and have spiritual meaning.

2. 6. What does Day of the Dead traditions consist on?
The Day of the Dead is a very festive, people realize festivals, and the making
of “Día de los Muertos” crafts, sometimes people sharing stories of the
deceased or clean and decorate gravesites, also make an altar in their houses.
Make a special food like a “pan de muerto” or “hojaldras”.
7. Which elements should an altar have?
The most common tradition that people carry on Day of the Dead is creating
altars to honor the dead these altars contain photos of saints of importance to
the family fresh flowers and flowers petals, the favorite food and drinks of the
deceased, candles, paper mache, skeleton dolls, sugar skulls, water, bread of
the dead, statues of saints, etc.
8. What is the meaning of each of this elements?
Photo of the dead family It’s to know whose is the ofrenda, the skulls serve as
reminders of the fate of every human, at the same time, acceptance of death as
inevitable and not at all scary, because it is sweet, flowers are symbols of the
festival for their colors and aromatic odor, flower petals are the way of color and
smell that trace the routes to the souls on their way to not being lost, the flame
producing by candles means "light", faith and hope and water is offered to the
spirits to mitigate their thirst after their long journey and to strengthen their
return.
9. What are the main symbols of Day of the Dead?
“Calaveritas”, Catrina, sugar skulls, ofrendas, bread of dead, flowers, candIes,
papel picado, typical food, etc.