In Reply to: Day of the Dead, Nov. 1 and or 2 posted by Pat from 204.117.196.189 (smtp.nchmd.org) on martes, agosto 12, 2003 at 14:32:09 :
¡Hola Pat!
Please try a couple of searches using "halloween" and "día de los muertos" and you'll find some helpful archived messages with details about this celebration.
This is not exactly a traditional festive celebration, though some businesses take advantage of the opportunity to commercialize it Halloween style. It is a much more serious, somber and personal event where families remember and honor deceased loved ones. I think it is unfortunate that in the name of commercialism, and owing mostly to U.S. mass media and well-meaning tourists, U.S.-style Halloween culture has been allowed to be superimposed onto Day of the Dead, diluting its original essence and adding to a loss of cultural identity among children here in Zihuatanejo who now think Day of the Dead means free candy from businesses and free money from the generous gringos.
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