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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

We're still pulling survivors out of the rubble of the party. Might luck out and find a limb or two in usable shape for Oct. 31st.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Ah, some photos finally. Thanks to all who came out to what was the biggest get together yet at close to 40 people!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Anyone get American style trick-or-treaters where they are? In DF, you see a lot of kids with little plastic pumpkins (calabasitas) asking for pesos or candy, but not door-to-door. I usually carry around a pocketful of candy on the 31st through to the 2nd.

notamiss · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

We don't get American-style trick-or-treaters but we do get families morteando and we've also been invited to mortear with families of my kids' friends. This is how it goes in our area:

The similarities
People dressed in deathly costumes go door-to-door asking for treats.

What's different
Groups are often extended families, so they are big... a dozen, two dozen, 30 people.
But you don't have to give them all something. Usually one small kid with a pillowcase is urged forward to receive the treats on behalf of the whole group.
Traditional treats are bread and fruit but candy is making inroads.
People giving treats also might have something for the grownups... a bottle of brandy might be on the ready and a stack of plastic glasses to distribute a shot to each of the men.
One time we went to a house where they were giving out cups of atole de dulce de calabaza. Yum!
Some people invite everyone who comes morteando (or everyone they know) into the house for a few minutes to admire the ofrenda and have a drink. The line between mortear and a neighbourhood party becomes pleasantly blurred.

Instead of saying "trick-or-treat", the saying is �La calavera!. But this is supposed to be preceded by certain songs, prayers and improvised rhymes.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Halloween "trick-or-treat" has become quite popular in Mazatlan. They seemed to be everywhere on Halloween night, many in very elaborate costumes. Interesting comment from the Catholic Church.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20071104-9999-1n4mexweek.html

MELEE · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject:

We get trick or treaters. The first few years I was here I hated it. Like fake snow at a Chilean shopping mall at Christmas.

But now I've come to see that with two cultures in as close a contact, it's a natural progression. What I don't like it that the kids here tend to do it for a week! Rolling Eyes

We arranged to only be home one night this year. Laughing

And we gave out fruit (mandarins and jicamas), though many of the kids expect money. In the center of town, they trick-or-treat among the pedestrians, rather than knocking on doors.

notamiss · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:36 pm Post subject:

I had posted this in another thread a few months ago, but it's quite germane here so I'll quote myself: