Tag: dia de los muertos

Events, Lifestyle, Spiritual

Celebrating El Día de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

by Jennifer Vasquez14 Comments on Celebrating El Día de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Vamp Jenn at the Dia de los Muertos event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Vamp Jenn at the Día de los Muertos event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Since 2000, Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles has been home to the largest Día de los Muertos celebration outside of Mexico, and I attended for the first time this year. For 2022, the festivities centered on Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of fertility and the agave plant. There were separate daytime and nighttime events happening, and I went to the latter, Noche de los Muertos. It was an evening filled with beautiful performances, rituals, altars, and so much more.

Continue reading “Celebrating El Día de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery” →
Events, Travel

Celebrating Halloween Around the World

by Jennifer Vasquez12 Comments on Celebrating Halloween Around the World

Halloween Aound the World

Although these days Halloween has become known for costumes, trick-or-treating and haunts, the history behind the holiday stretches far back in time, nearly 2,000 years ago with the Celts who celebrated Samhain between October 31st and November 1st. Eventually with the spread of Christianity, the Celtic tradition would be absorbed into All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd).

Interestingly, the Christian Church celebrated All Souls’ Day in a similar way to Samhain, maintaining customs such as building bonfires and donning costumes. The origin of the term “Halloween” is the Middle English word meaning All Saints’ Day, “Alholowmesse.” In time, the night before November 1st would be referred to as All Hallows’ Eve and then as Halloween.

From America to Asia, celebrations of this holiday have spread worldwide with countries commemorating the day in diverse and fascinating ways. Following is just a small fraction of what Halloween festivities take place. Continue reading “Celebrating Halloween Around the World” →