Hallow’s Eve

The way I heard it was that the kites are used to 'send messages' to the departed (in heaven). The origin–no idea. Wishing I was there for the fiambre, but I'm home in Michigan getting ready to rake the leaves

Korey–where is "here?" Last year and the year before there were plenty of kids in costume in Antigua's Central Park and surrounds. I was handing out Chiclets left and right.

I love the way Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead too….some day I will honor my favorite departed with a table of their favorite foods and flowers and photos if I have them…..I couldn't possibly decorate all their graves as they are scattered from England to all over the USA and beyond. I think it is a wonderful custom to remember those we love still after they are gone and who live on in our memories:grandparents, parents, friends etc in this way.

I am a bit beyond the kite flying stage but will be picking string and small kites from my trees and rooftops tomorrow as I live near a cemetery in GUatemala.Maybe I could pay local children to send messages to my departed by flying kites with messages posted to them…a prettier image than a message in a bottle.I wonder if they have the candy skulls here with sequined names on them as in Mexico and who isn't stopped in their tracks when they first see a Catarina doll (skeleton female with fancy dress and picture hat). THose mariachi skeleton bands in Mexico are neat too. I love the Mexican attitude toward death…..the Guatemalan one seems a tad more somber, but is healthier than our USA one of "avoid discussions of death at any cost". Leads to alot of fear and terror amongst norte americanos that it would be emotionally healthier to get over…..

I thought Nov. 2 was All Souls Day, better known to many as El Dia de los Muertos.

Sybil, I agree with you that the Mexican Attitude towards death is healthier than how we treat it in the US. Maybe the more somber Guatemalan attitude comes from their more somber recent history..

As far as I know, Guatemalans have always celebrated the Day of the Day a little more subdued than Mexicans. We don't fetishize death. The difference is between the Maya and the Aztec traditions. The Maya, as far as I know, didn't practice cannibalism. Towns in Guatemala that were founded by the Mexican allies of the conquistadores, like Mixco, celebrate the Day of the Dead with a little more flamboyantly.