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SkeletonAll kinds of ghosts and monsters descended on the streets of many cities spain When night falls to celebrate Halloween. The next morning, an older generation flocked to the country’s cemeteries to remember their dead.
restraint of Catholic The tradition whereby graves are cleaned on All Saints’ Day and flowers are brought to cemeteries to spend time with deceased loved ones has in recent years replaced sweets, fake blood and spider webs as one of the most revered holidays. United States of America,
As in many other parts of the world, instead of following their ancestral traditions, young people have adopted the more commercial side of the celebration, which originated from the pagan festival of Samhain, which honored the end of summer and the harvest. And it does not seem that they will follow in the footsteps of their elders.
José Bobadilla, a sociologist specializing in culture and religious diversity, pointed out that cultural change did not happen overnight, but is the result of the secularization of society.
“Obviously, the process of a new, more Americanized culture has had an impact not only in Europe,” Bobadilla said, adding that the current celebration, which is spreading throughout the world, “undermines the idea that this is a time to remember those who are no longer with us.”
Old and new traditions
Almudena Cemetery madridSpain’s largest monument, which houses nearly five million people buried there, began to receive its first visitors early in the morning.
At the main entrance, several flower shops were waiting with prepared bouquets for those who had left arranging graves until the last minute.
“We always come (in November),” said retiree Alicia Sanchez, 69, who lamented the loss of the tradition due to a lack of interest among young people.
He said, “I don’t like Halloween because it’s not our holiday. But everyone has their own traditions and they should be respected.”
Paz Sanchez visited her husband’s grave with her son, as they do on many other days. However, this time they were surprised to see so few people despite it being the busiest day of the year.
“Maybe they don’t feel like getting up early to come to the cemetery,” said Sanchez, 87.
A few hours earlier, as in the past decade, Paraquelos de Jarama, a town about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Madrid, prepared for Halloween.
It started out with just a few neighbors, but now there are dozens of homes decorated with pumpkins and ghosts, there’s a haunted trail, and hundreds of people walking the streets with tricks.
Miguel Izquierdo transformed his family home into a pirate ship with recycled wood for the hull and an old sheet as a sail. The lights, music and 30 kg (66 lb) of candy, which was gone in less than two hours, made it one of the most popular.
“After three years, they continue to participate because of how much fun the kids are having,” said Izquierdo, 42, who runs an audiovisual production company. “We like it because it’s a party, because it’s a costume party, and because it has candy.”
“I don’t dislike the party, but I feel like it’s not part of our traditions,” said Antonia Martin, 68, who celebrated Halloween without a costume for her grandchildren for the first time.
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Associated Press video journalist Alicia Lyons contributed to this report.