{Your eyes do not deceive you - this really is a post about Halloween! And your calendar does not deceive you, either, I am just very, very, VERY late getting this one posted. Enjoy!}
I don't think it's any big surprise that Honduras has their own set of holidays. Or that they don't celebrate all the same holidays that we do in The States. They are a whole separate country, after all.
But, being the true 'Mericans that we are, we insisted on finding a way to celebrate Halloween, even if the rest of the country was clueless as to what we were doing!
Essentially, there are three main components to Halloween:
- Costumes
- Trick-or-Treating
- Pumpkin Carving
Checking off this list in a Central American country is not always easy, but we were not going to be deterred!
Pumpkins
The big Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins that are the mascot of Halloween just plain don't exist here. In fact, I still don't know what the word for "pumpkin" actually is in Spanish. Hondurans call them simply "calabaza." Which means "squash." Technically true - a pumpkin is a squash - but so are a lot of things. Acorn, spaghetti, and butternut, are some of the others, to name a few. The lack of a separate word was made woefully obvious today when the Lunch Menu in the Embassy cafeteria boasted a side dish of "Pumpkin and Vegetables," only to be dissappointed by a tray full of baked zucchini.
The few actual orangey pumpkins that can be found stocked at the beginning of October are imported.
And Imported = Expensive.
Miss Priss, Lil' Miss Sunshine and I were at the local PriceSmart (the Latin American Costco) when they spied a display of pumpkins. Giddy, they ran over and each picked one up.
"PUT THOSE DOWN RIGHT NOW!" I ordered, as if they were tossing around Fabrege Eggs. "Those pumpkins are $30 a piece, and I don't want to pay for it if you drop one!"
Gingerly, they placed the fruit back on top of the pile.
Nope, no pumpkins for us this year!
But that doesn't mean we can't improvise.
After all, a squash is a squash is a squash, right?
I found these little beauties at The Mercado one morning. They're cute, they're little, they're very, very green, but with a little paint, they are just perfect!
PUMPKINS......... check!
Costumes
There are a few stores here in Tegucigalpa that sell some Halloween things. Most, of course, are leftovers from Halloweens Past, as in "the stuff that didn't sell in The States." Want the latest Frozen or Ninja Turtle costume? You're probably not going to find it here.
No matter, because my little princesses didn't want to be either of those things!
Instead, we had a Rainbow Butterfly....
And Toothless the Dragon from the movie How To Train Your Dragon.
Fortunately, I'm not afraid to break out the sewing machine, or take on the task of creating a costume from the few working brain cells I have left.
COSTUMES...... check!
Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-Treating is much tougher to accomplish in a country like this. Not only do most of the population have no idea what you are talking about (or even why you are wearing a costume), there's that whole walking-in-the-streets-at-night-is-probably-gonna-get-you-shot thing to contend with.
Fortunately, we are part of an outstanding U.S. Embassy who takes care of our Holiday Yearnings!
The CLO (or Community Liason Office) managed to put on, not just one, but TWO fabulous events to entertain the kiddies!
The first happens on a Saturday in October, and fulfills the need of a traditional Trick-or-Treat experience. The Embassy uses one of the gated communities (they're almost all gated around here!) in the area. First, there's a little party, akin to an elementary school's Fall Festival, with a bounce house, face painting and little crafts. Plus a potluck of tasty desserts (gotta get the kids hopped up on sugar before they go find some more sugar!)
After a little Costume Parade, the Trick-or-Treaters are let loose into the small neighborhood to fill up those candy bags - only to the houses that previously agreed to participate, of course.
The whole event is about the closest you can come to a US-style Halloween in all of Honduras!
Our second event is held during the week, and is a Trick-or-Treat throughout the Embassy. Each department decorates their section of the four-story building, and then the kids are escorted through to get their candy!
The CLO holds a Decorating Contest, so some of these displays were pretty creepy! Twice, Miss Priss refused to get her candy. And, yes, Miss Priss is the older one! One display in particular had a man dressed as Frankenstein's Monster. An already tall guy, he taped styrofoam boxes to the bottoms of his shoes, to make himself even more intimidating. He didn't use a mask, utilizing make-up for his green monster face.
Miss Priss made fun of the packing tape on his shoes.
And then refused go near him.
Not even for C-A-N-D-Y!!
After we were safely home, plopped on the couch, sifting through candy buckets, I asked Miss Priss if she knew who the Frankenstein was.
She thought for a while, made a few guesses, and then cried, "Just tell me who it is!"
"It was your best friend's dad!! I can't believe you didn't recognize him!"
TRICK-OR-TREATING....... check!
There was a lot of fun to be had this past Halloween! Still, I'll be glad when we are back in The States, where this holiday can be done properly. I mean, what kind of decent Trick-or-Treat bag DOESN'T contain one single Snickers???
