Mazamitla, Halloween and Día de los muertos
(Originally posted November 2015)
Mazamitla
Mazamitla is a small town in the mountains approximately two hours from Guadalajara. Each year at ASFG, the fourth grade generation takes a three-day trip to an eco-lodge in the forest. When asked about the purpose of the trip, my students were spot on: to bond as a generation, to become more independent, to appreciate nature and, of course, to have fun.
muchacha to carry his things.
The morning of our departure was full of energy and worries. Parents filled the cafeteria, some happily catching up with the others and some nervously giving last minute reminders to their kids. The kids bounced around the playground until the final call to board the bus. Loaded and ready to go, one had a last moment of panic and sobbed, “cancel…the…trip…I….have….to….go….home.” Three camp songs later, and he was smiling and cheering the rest of the week.
I hesitate to call this experience “camping” for the kids. We stayed in cabins with two bathrooms each with hot water. I stayed with all twelve of my girls, sleeping three on the king-sized bed, on bunk beds, and on couch cushions. The food was served in a dining hall, one with real plates with cloth napkins. Roughing it.
For three days, the kids were on the go, go, go with all sorts of camp activities, none of which included long division, much to their liking. They made “God’s eyes,” played field games, observed nature, and did team building activities. The kids took two out of camp experiences: one to the town of Mazamitla where they donated books to the local library and shopped around the typical small town plaza and another trip in jeeps further up the mountain and to visit a cajeta factory, where they promptly spent all their allowance on sweets. In the evenings, they played charades, did yoga, sang campfire songs, ate s’mores and took night hikes.
One unforgettable moment in our cabin was the bat. On the first night, I convinced the girls that we were safe to all fall asleep because that bat in the corner was certainly hibernating. The next night, as we were all just falling asleep, way too late already, I heard a little voice from the loft, “Miss….we need you.” The bat was flying around the rafters and swooping around the furniture. Of course, at this moment, none of the other teachers are answering my whatsapp messages and coming to our bat-fearing rescue. In the end, I found a pair of security guards roaming the grounds that came in and “put the bat to sleep” and made a thorough search of the cabin for remaining bats. And, only then, could the girls sleep soundly.
The three days with the kids away from school was exhausting but enjoyable. I appreciated spending time with my students, especially the girls in my cabin, outside of the academic setting, something that so rarely happens to teachers. The girls solved problems together and laughed until they cried together. I recalled such fond memories of my summers as a camper and counselor at Camp Black Hawk.
There was a noticeable difference in the air in the classroom today. There was a new sense of respect and understanding among the students. A certain excitement to work hard and play together. We all let our guard down a little on the trip and in its place in a connection of trust and teamwork.
Halloween
Aside from the good old days of State Street Halloween, this was the biggest mass of costumed people parading around that I have ever seen. This school takes Halloween seriously. Skipping the costume might be grounds for termination. Highly in contrast to the U.S. public school banning of any costumes and candy on grounds of the celebration having religious connections.
I arrived to our class after our three-day camping trip to find the “room mothers” had decorated for the party. The desks all formed a spooky table with an orange covering and a black table skirt. The place settings included mini cauldrons as napkin holders.
Unfortunately, the traditional outdoor parade around the track was complicated with an unseasonable rain. Instead we lined up and slowly paraded through packs of parents (many also in costume) under the cover the cafeteria and then into a tightly packed gym. The seniors did a show with a Star Wars themed choreographed skit and dance and then students returned to the classrooms for their parties. We ate ghost shaped sandwiches and cake while half-watching Charlie Brown. A perfect day for an early noon dismissal.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead (or Dia de los muertos) is not the Mexican version of Halloween. It has deep indigenous roots that have been blended with Christian tradition over many centuries. It is a day for family and friends to remember their loved ones that have died. Altars are created in homes and in cemeteries with marigolds, sugar skulls, the deceased’s favorite food and beverages and toys for children. Dia de los muertos holds an atmosphere of celebration and honoring of past lives, rather than a morbid or dark tone of death.
I participated with friends in catrina makeup. The catrina, with elegant skull imagery, is a classic icon of the celebration. The make up took over an hour to apply and included many layers of paint, fake eyelashes, and glued on little jewels. After all eight of us were made up, we put our names around the altar and enjoyed a night out in Guadalajara.
Around town, there are many altars in homes and work places, including a large one at the school. Vendors in the street are stocked with wagon-fulls of marigolds. Avenida Chapultepec is lined with larger than life catrinas, many depicting famous people. The town of Tlaquepaque held a festival with the streets lined with altars and performances in the town plaza.
