Enjoy Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Alcalá de Henares

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Kids love Halloween, it’s a fact. They have been raised in a world of TV, music, internet, coca cola and English lessons since kindergarten. When they are 3 years old,they dress up for Halloween. Even though this never happened before, they are a new generation who probably feels like Halloween is part of them.

The truth is that Halloween doesn’t belong to the Spanish culture; it certainly will soon, but it still isn’t a Spanish holiday. Most of us have mixed feelings when suddenly everybody is wearing a scary costume on such a special night, and some even feel annoyed when a stupid kid breaks an egg on our front door and we don’t know why…

The feast of Halloween may seem disrespectful for the more traditional Spanish person. This night used to be the night before All Saints’ Day, a night when you prepare for a day about remembering your dead family members. A day of meditation and silence. A day for going to the cemetery and taking some flowers to your beloved who passed away. A day when you hear old family stories about people you never met. A day when you take care of your family (no matter if it is still there or not). I think it is the only day of the year when Spaniards actually talk about the dead.

I don’t want to sound like a grupy old man. I don’t expect you to go to the cemetery of Alcalá on All Saints’ Day (what would you do there?), although I think it is a good idea for you to understand the profound meaning of this day for the Spanish people. Now that I have made my point…. let’s talk about the fun part.

If you are dying to get on a costume, then I really suggest you to join the 2nd Zombie Walk. It was a huge success last year. (Look the amazing video they made!)

How does Zombie Walk work? Fist of all you need a zombie costume and make up.
-If you want to participate you should be in Plaza de los Santos Niños at 8pm, and they will tell you your position during the walk. It will start after a zombie trumpet call.
-You must keep in your assigned position from the beginning till the end of the walk. They need an organized Zombie Walk.
-The walk will stop in three different places, always after a zombie trumpet call. At this moment every zombie must do the flashmob actions in the video. If you don’t know them you can’t be in the front of the walk.

The people of Tufts Skidmore Spain (the ones who make this walk possible) will do their make up together in the Facultad de Documentación (from 18:00 to 19:45 in Salón de Actos). They invite all participants to join them.

You may win the Green Irish Pub contest after the walk or you can just party with the people you will probably meet during the event and have fun. Night bars and discos usually offer some drinks or free entrance if you are dressed up.

The next day, the 1st of November, All Saints’ Day, try some of the traditional sweets. Huesos de Santo (Bones of the Saints), Buñuelos de Viento (Wind Fritters) or Yemas de Santa Teresa (Yolks of Saint Teresa) are a good choice. The next post will be a recipe of “Huesos de Santo”, my favorite! Don’t forget that the night of the 1st and the 2nd is the play of Don Juan Tenorio, and it’s free!! Read our post about it.

As you can see, you have some options for Halloween and All Saints’ Day. Please, don’t stay at home. Go out and enjoy what our city has to offer. Have a wonderful feast! The truth is that Halloween doesn’t belong to the Spanish culture; it certainly will soon, but it still isn’t a Spanish holiday. Most of us have mixed feelings when suddenly everybody is wearing a scary costume on such a special night, and some even feel annoyed when a stupid kid breaks an egg on our front door and we don’t know why…

The feast of Halloween may seem disrespectful for the more traditional Spanish person. This night used to be the night before All Saints’ Day, a night when you prepare for a day about remembering your dead family members. A day of meditation and silence. A day for going to the cemetery and taking some flowers to your beloved who passed away. A day when you hear old family stories about people you never met. A day when you take care of your family (no matter if it is still there or not). I think it is the only day of the year when Spaniards actually talk about the dead.

I don’t want to sound like a grupy old man. I don’t expect you to go to the cemetery of Alcalá on All Saints’ Day (what would you do there?), although I think it is a good idea for you to understand the profound meaning of this day for the Spanish people. Now that I have made my point…. let’s talk about the fun part.

If you are dying to get on a costume, then I really suggest you to join the 2nd Zombie Walk. It was a huge success last year. (Look the amazing video they made!)

How does Zombie Walk work? Fist of all you need a zombie costume and make up.
-If you want to participate you should be in Plaza de los Santos Niños at 8pm, and they will tell you your position during the walk. It will start after a zombie trumpet call.
-You must keep in your assigned position from the beginning till the end of the walk. They need an organized Zombie Walk.
-The walk will stop in three different places, always after a zombie trumpet call. At this moment every zombie must do the flashmob actions in the video. If you don’t know them you can’t be in the front of the walk.

The people of Tufts Skidmore Spain (the ones who make this walk possible) will do their make up together in the Facultad de Documentación (from 18:00 to 19:45 in Salón de Actos). They invite all participants to join them.

You may win the Green Irish Pub contest after the walk or you can just party with the people you will probably meet during the event and have fun. Night bars and discos usually offer some drinks or free entrance if you are dressed up.

The next day, the 1st of November, All Saints’ Day, try some of the traditional sweets. Huesos de Santo (Bones of the Saints), Buñuelos de Viento (Wind Fritters) or Yemas de Santa Teresa (Yolks of Saint Teresa) are a good choice. The next post will be a recipe of “Huesos de Santo”, my favorite! Don’t forget that the night of the 1st and the 2nd is the play of Don Juan Tenorio, and it’s free!! Read our post about it.

As you can see, you have some options for Halloween and All Saints’ Day. Please, don’t stay at home. Go out and enjoy what our city has to offer. Have a wonderful feast!

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