Join us for our Halloween and Day Of The Dead celebration

It is time for ghouls, goblins and fairy princesses. It is time for Halloween. All Hallows Evening first came about in the 16th century, but where and how it started are unknown. Some people think that it started as a Celtic holiday called Samhain, a day to mark the end of fall and the harvest season. The people also thought that on this day the physical and spiritual worlds were closest, and mystical things could happen. To ward off spirits, people would light huge bonfires and make  sacrifices to ask for help from the gods. Adding to this spooky season is Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead in English. This Mexican holiday starts right after Halloween, lasting from November 1st to the 2nd. During these two days, celebrators remember and pray for loved ones who have died through prayer and by creating altars with the deceased’s favorite foods.

Just like with most things in life, these two holidays have changed over their many years of existence. Instead of giant bonfires, now Jack-o-Lanterns are lit to guide the way for trick-or-treaters in search of something sweet. Dia de Los Muertos has not changed nearly as much as Halloween, except it has become more widespread.

"Day of the Dead is a very old holiday that was primarily celebrated in Mexico, but really now anywhere with a Spanish influence," said Spanish teacher Haley Spears.

With changes also come misconceptions, and these two days have their fair share of them. Halloween was not always about costumes and candy, it was a solemn day for thinking about the long winter ahead and if there was enough food stored to survive it. Mourning and sadness are usually associated with the Day of the Dead, but that is not what it is about.

Señorita Spears describes it as "A very happy and celebratory time, where they don't mourn those who are gone, but celebrate the lives they had."

Despite these wrong ideas, both holidays have continued to thrive and give people a reason to celebrate.

Waianae High School also took part in the celebrating both Halloween and Día de los Muertos. On Halloween, a costume contest was held on school grounds during lunch. All the students who dressed up were given a chance to compete for who had the best costume. Judges and the crowd gathered to see students dressed up in a wide variety of costumes, ranging from Pikachu to Lady Gaga. On the next day, Spanish students started on celebrations of their own for Day of the Dead.

"We're having a fiesta, the Spanish word for party, we'll be listening to music, making art projects and eating some traditional foods," said Spears.

The smell of Mexican dishes and the sound of Spanish music filled the school when the Spanish classes started their fiesta. It was a way to respect the departed and also a learning experience for the Spanish students. In addition to having a party, they also made posters about Día de los Muertos and memory boxes, modeled to honor someone who had passed on. Although they are fun holidays, Halloween and Día de los Muertos both have bigger meanings that sometimes get lost in the candy and festivities.