Halloween by Stephanie

There are many traditions in the different countries of the world related with the dead, they are celebrations that are realized in order to memorize those people who aren’t with us anymore .By Skype I talked with a girl from USA, where as all we know  Halloween is a national tradition. There are a lot of details that we don’t know about that festive day, and a they don’t about ours, either.

She asked me if we use to celebrating this day in the way they do, but I told her that we don’t. In Ecuador,I said, the people don’t wear costumes and go around the streets  with them  asking for candies house by house, and what is more , this day is also the day of a national symbol, the coat of arms .I think it was really confusing  for her because as I didn’t know how to said “escudo” in English it was quite difficult to explain her what its meaning was.

But Ecuador  also has its own traditions related with dead ,I said. Here we have the  deceased’s day ,which involves  different actions and objects that are essential for it  .We are use to eating “guaguas de pan” and drink “ colada morada” ,these are emblematic food which is shared with the people that had passed away . She asked what “guaguas de pan”  and “ colada morada were .I explained her that they are a kind of bread which is decorated and can have a filling ,which could have different flavors  like chocolate , pain apple or blackberry ,in the case of  “ guaguas the pan “ ,and “colada morada “ is a drink made with different fruits like pain apple , blackberry and its is mulberry because of the purple flour that is used to prepare it.

She told me she was going to wear a turtle costume, which was pretty funny; she said that she was used to wearing crazy costumes and go out with her friends to the different parties that are realized . I told her that even we weren’t familiarized with Halloween’s celebration a lot of parties in the different clubs were organized, but it was just for having fun ,but no because we know the real significance of it.

She was really interested in the Ecuadorian’s traditions and our music too. We talked about the different weathers and region’s characteristic ,and also she could know that Galapagos Islands are part of our country ,something that she hadn’t know until we talked , it was great to talk with her and share knowledge about our culture.