Tuesday, November 01, 2005
The Day of All Saints
Halloween isn´t a very popular holiday here... it´s the day after that gets all the attention. But despite that, we did see some kids last night dressed up in various costumes, mostly as witches. That´s mainly a result of American influcence and depending on who you talk to they´ll either embrace it or hate it.
But anyway... today, Nov. 1st, is a national holiday where people have the chance to spend the day with family and pay their respects to the dead. The 2 blocks surrounding the cemetary are packed people and vendors buying and selling flowers and decorative wreaths (For once this place actually smells good!). These are taken to decorate the graves of loved ones who have passed away and they fly kites as a means of communicating with God and the deceased.
They also eat a special dish called Fiambre. It´s a host of different vegetables topped off with various cold meats and cheese. Sooooooo good!! Traditionally you make tons and tons of it and then you share and trade your food with family and neighbours. Everyone makes it a little differently so it never tastes the same one to the other.
But anyway... today, Nov. 1st, is a national holiday where people have the chance to spend the day with family and pay their respects to the dead. The 2 blocks surrounding the cemetary are packed people and vendors buying and selling flowers and decorative wreaths (For once this place actually smells good!). These are taken to decorate the graves of loved ones who have passed away and they fly kites as a means of communicating with God and the deceased.
They also eat a special dish called Fiambre. It´s a host of different vegetables topped off with various cold meats and cheese. Sooooooo good!! Traditionally you make tons and tons of it and then you share and trade your food with family and neighbours. Everyone makes it a little differently so it never tastes the same one to the other.
# posted by doris : 10:46 AM
