Catriona: And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted? Nevermore! 

Welcome back to A Zero to A Hero, to our Halloween, Día de Muertos special! That was a section of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven to get us into the spooky mood. 

Héctor: That was spooky, indeed. I love Edgar Allan Poe! Welcome everybody to our special. What are we going to talk about today, Catriona? 

Catriona: We are going to talk about two beloved traditions, Día de Muertos and Halloween, and we’ll tell you a little bit more about the origins of both holidays, as well as the differences and similarities between them. 

Héctor: I would also like to share how these holidays are observed in different parts of the English and Spanish-speaking worlds.

Catriona: We’ll also get a little but nostalgic ‘cus we discuss how these celebrations have changed within our lifetimes. 

Héctor: And we’ll also share with you how we celebrate these dates with our friends and family.

Catriona: I’m really looking forward to today’s episode, Héctor!

Héctor: I’m as well. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Catriona: Isn’t that from a Christmas song?

Héctor: Well, Día de Muertos is like Christmas for me but why don’t you start telling me and our audience what you know about Día de Muertos.

Catriona: to be honest, I don’t know a lot about it, so it’s good that you’re here, Héctor. I’ve dressed up a couple of times, with a skull face, and flowers in my hair, and celebrated with some friends. We all pretended to know what we were celebrating, but I think with us, it gets a little bit blurred with Halloween. All Saints' Day is celebrated in a lot of countries, so I think the definition and history behind is somehow lost on me. 

Héctor: OK, so. Let’s start with the basics. Día de Muertos is a celebration that dates back to pre-Hispanic traditions in Mesoamerica. Aztecs believed that life and death were not two different phenomena, but two fundamental aspects of existence. In the Aztec tradition you have the surface (the Earth), which was called tlacticpac, the realms above, Ilhuicatl, and below, Mictlán. 

Catriona: What language is this, Héctor?

Héctor: It is Nahuatl, a language spoken in Central Mexico, it used to be the language of the Aztec Empire before the Spanish came to America. Don’t worry, you don’t have to learn these words.

So Mictlán, the Underworld, is from where Aztecs believed the dead came back to visit those who are still on the surface. Let me read this poem by Nezahualcóyotl, philosopher, warrior, architect, poet and ruler of the City of Texcoco, not far away from what it is now Mexico City.

Is it true one really lives on the earth? 
Not forever on earth, only a little while here,
though it be of jade it falls apart,
though it be gold it wears away, 
though it be quetzal plumage it is torn asunder.
Not forever on earth,
only a little while here.

Here we can see this belief that life is temporary and we’re doomed to perish, therefore we are supposed to enjoy the little time we have on Earth. Halloween tradition also dates back to Pre-Christian times, am I right?

Catriona:  It does, definitely. The name Halloween most likely comes from All Hallows eve, and it stands from a pre-Christian Celtic tradition where wildfires will be lit, and the veil between the living and the dead was thought to be dropped. Similar I guess to Día Muertos where you could contact the spirits if you like from the other side. But I’m guessing Héctor that also Día de Muertos changed and the festivals surrounding it during colonial times. 

Héctor: Yes, the tradition also changed definitely after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Aztec human sacrifices, which were quite common and part of religious rituals, were banned, and the Catholic faith was instituted. Nonetheless, one millenary culture cannot be easily substituted just by imposing another one. People started to hide their deities in Catholic imagery, and with the time these cults of death blended with other Catholic traditions. For example, in the Catholic world, as some of our listeners may know, it is also common to pay a visit to their dead relatives on November 1st, El Día de Todos los Santos. Did Halloween change after the introduction of Christianity?

Catriona: It did, yea to an extent. The Christian Church never misses the opportunity for a good feast… and along with remembering the souls and praying for the ones in purgatory, people would also pray for the dead at this time of year. I think it had more to do with frightening away evil spirits when the church became involved, rather than inviting them back into the world of the living. Later on in history though, Guy Fawkes was somebody to attempted to blow up the House of Parliament, and he was unsuccessful, but this then later in time concluded in the celebration that we have in Britain called Guy Fawkes’ night and to celebrate Guy Fawkes’ night we light also bonfires and fireworks and this takes place on the 5th of November as you might know. 

Héctor: Yea, I watched the film. 

Catriona: And I think to an extent this overtook slightly the Halloween celebrations that have been happening in Britain, so Guy Fawkes’ night became a bigger evening, I think a bigger call for celebration, for gathering, and since it’s quite close to Halloween, I think Halloween kind of died a little bit in Britain. 

Héctor: Wow, I didn't know that.

Catriona: Scotland is a little bit different maybe because we are a bit more pagan, the church in Scotland sort of carried the tradition a little bit more. I think in Scotland is seen as a more important festival still. But Héctor, what do people do in México in this day?

Héctor: Nowadays, people build altars for their relatives, where they set up the “ofrenda”, those are offerings for the dead. They place photos of their relatives on a table and make decorations with “cempasúchil”, those are Mexican marigolds, and “papel picado”, which is a decorative craft made out of paper with elaborate designs. They also put sugar, chocolate and amaranth skulls, “calaveritas”, as well as food and drinks their loved ones used to enjoy while still alive. And, of course, they enjoy a piece of “pan de muerto”, a typical sweetened soft bread, along with a cup of hot chocolate. 

Catriona: Sounds delicious! 

Héctor: Yes. In contrast to Halloween, where as you originally said, the ritual was carried out in order to cast out the bad spirits. Día de Muertos is more of a celebration of the lives of those who have passed away, a way of reminding that death only comes with oblivion. So in that case, perhaps this tradition is closer to the Scottish way of celebrating. 

Catriona: Potentially yea, a little bit more similar. In Scotland, we also have a couple of other differences to the rest of the UK, and the American trick or-treating it is pretty widespread now. Is called “guising” in Scotland - comes from to disguise yourself or to dress up, and we don’t have the trick part… usually, you would do the rounds of the neighborhood, to go to your neighbor's houses, so I used to do when I was younger, and you have to have something prepared -like a poem or story, and in exchange for your short performance, you get some sweets. 

Héctor: Does it have to be spooky poem or a spooky story? 

Catriona: Ideally yea. You would only prepare something Halloweeneske for the evening.

Héctor: OK and have you noticed any changes in how people celebrate this date?

Catriona: I mean, I think all over the place has become far more commercial. Trick or treating is a thing with us as well, now guising is probably on the way out. I feel like costumes don't have to be scary longer, you can just dress as anything at all. How about you, Héctor? Have you noticed changes?

Héctor: I was born in the eighties, but most of my memories are actually from the nineties. I remember the American boom during this decade, and of course, Halloween started to become more and more present, especially trick-or-treating, although the tricking part was not too much of a thing. I mean, I bet you there were some naughty kids playing tricks on their neighbors, but it was definitely not common. 

As a kid, all you wanted was a spooky costume and maybe get lots of candy for you and your friends. At school, teachers would always emphasize the importance of keeping our own traditions alive, and both celebrations were always separated. We would prepare the “ofrenda” at home or at work, but we would also wear the classic Dracula or Mummy costumes. As the years go by I think traditions have blended, so you have so now 3 days of celebration, starting on October 31st with Halloween, November the 1st, Día de los Angelitos, which is dedicated to dead infants and children, this I would say is way more solemn. Finally, on November 2nd, it’s Día de Muertos. As time has come by, I think that Halloween is something you are more likely to celebrate with friends and Día de Muertos is more with the family, but, of course, this changes from person to person and from region to region. 

Catriona:  Héctor, do you have a particular ritual or what do you do to celebrate? 

Héctor: Well, I moved from Mexico at the end of 2018, so this is going to be my first Día de Muertos outside Mexico. I have planned to set up my “ofrenda” and bake “pan de muerto”.

Catriona: I’m sure you’re going to share a piece with you co-host…

Héctor: By all means! How about you, Catriona? What do you do for Halloween?

Catriona: I mean, to be honest, nothing. Since you have so many traditions going on Hector in this time. I think Halloween, now especially for my generation, is just an excuse to get dressed and have a party! So the actual origins of Halloween and the tradition, the roots, and where everything comes from have sort of been forgotten about, or we don’t really discuss it very much.
 
Certainly, there isn’t as much of a sort of nationwide tradition that people take part in or do. So just dressing up and going to a Halloween party. Guising, or trick or treating, is exclusively for the children, so you definitely couldn’t dress up and run to your neighbors' house, perform a poem and ask for some sweets, no that would be strange.

Héctor: I mean, you could still dress up, but just you don't go trick or treating anymore, maybe. 

Catriona: True, you just go to a party instead. However. But beyond the cultural aspects of these celebrations, what does it actually mean to you? 

Héctor: For me, Día de Muertos is more of a connection to the people who came before you, appreciate what they did in life and keep their memory alive. I’m not really into celebrating Halloween, but I do love horror films, so I also use it as an excuse to binge-watch some of my favorite horror movies

Catriona:  I would second that. I also enjoy horror films. OK, so we’ll recap before we get too far into lots of new Spanish words for me. So far we’ve spoken about “ofrenda”, “papel picado”, “calaverita” and “pan de muerto”, and the Mexican marigolds were…cempasúchil, well difficult to remember. OK maybe we could put some more words on top of that just to challenge me for more. 

Héctor: Great, so I really liked it that you remember some of the words that we have learned and we are going to revisit them during our challenge. But before that, let’s learn some more words. 

Héctor: So far you have only learned one meaning of “calaverita”

Catriona: The skull-shaped sweets, no?

Héctor:  Yeah, that’s correct. There is also this literary tradition, where you write funny verses for your family and friends, and that verse is called “calaverita” as well. They can be either sent directly to the person or posted in a common area for everybody to read them. “La calavera” is also one of the many names given to “La Muerte”, the death. 

Catriona: Oh so “La Muerte” has many names?

Héctor: Yes, “la flaca”, the thin one, “la huesuda”, the boney one, “la pelona”, the bald one.

Catriona: Oh Héctor, it’s going to be hard to remember all these.

Héctor: Well, “La Muerte” also has a proper name.

Catriona: What is it?

Héctor: ¡Catrina! ¡La Catrina!

Catriona: Ah, good to me death, sounds like me.

Héctor: But that’s actually not the only connection between you and Día de Muertos. 

Catriona:  Oh really? There’s more? 

Héctor: Well, every year there is a parade to celebrate Día de Muertos. “El Desfile de Día de Muertos”. 

Catriona: Yes, I saw it on that James Bond film.

Héctor: Exactly, as a matter of fact, the parade was originally staged for the movie.

Catriona: Wait, that means the parade didn’t take place before the movie?

Héctor: Crazy, right?

Catriona: Pretty crazy. but I guess if Sean Connery is no longer 007, but I will count that as a point for Scotland! 

Héctor: Fair enough!

Catriona: So, Héctor… What’s my challenge for today? 

Héctor: You have to say what you have learned about Día de Muertos.

Catriona: That’s an easy one… Día de Muertos is a Mex…

Héctor: But in Spanish…

Catriona: Well… I’ll give it my best shot. Día de muertos es una fiesta mexicana, mexicana. Siempre celebrada el dos de noviembre. El día de todos los santos es el primero de noviembre. La gente come pan de muerto. Un pan dulce y suave típicamente disfrutado con chocolate caliente. Hay también las calaveritas de azúcar. A veces decorado con glaseado ¿para comer o para decorar, Héctor? 

Hector: Las puedes comer, you can eat them  or you can also use them for decoration, para decorar.

Catriona: En el altar se colocan fotos de parientes muertos y la ofrenda, cosas para comer. Y como recuerdo la muerte tiene nombres diferentes, la Flaca, la Pelona y la Huesuda, la Catrina. 

Héctor: Very good. Episode 3 and you’re already talking about traditions. Congratulations!

Catriona: ¡Quiero más!

Héctor: What would you like to learn in the next episode?

Catriona: Now that I'm feeling quite confident Héctor! Why don’t you teach me the basics of Spanish gender?

Héctor: Of course! That’s gonna be interesting!

Catriona: Remember that you can contact us via email at podcasting@babbel.com, don’t forget to write A Zero to A Hero in the subject line. We would also love to hear about how you celebrate Halloween and, or Día de Muertos.

Héctor: Send us all your comments and suggestions and don’t forget to subscribe to A Zero to A Hero wherever you get podcasts and please leave us a review!

Catriona & Héctor: ¡Feliz Día de Muertos!