America

“It is a way of adapting to the culture”

In a residential neighborhood in Miami, María López decorates her garden with colorful pumpkins and skulls. Among figures of ghosts and witches he explains to the Voice of America that this has become a ritual for her. “I started when my children were little, but now they don’t even live here anymore but I keep the spirit, it’s a way of adapting to American culture,” explains the 42-year-old woman.

Although it is a holiday that is not part of the cultural roots of many Latinos, over time it has been adopted with its own touches: combining American influence with customs from their countries of origin.

October 31 is not just a night for costumes and the famous “trick or treat” either trick or treat in English, but also an opportunity for thousands of homes to display “spooky” creativity with decorations ranging from carved pumpkins to elaborate horror scenes.

The tradition of decorating homes for Halloween, especially in countries like the United States, has grown significantly in the last decade and now spreads globally, standing out in places like the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

According to data According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), spending on Halloween decorations in 2023 reached $3.6 million, a figure that has increased steadily since 2010. Approximately 70% of households Americans who celebrate the holiday invest in outdoor decorations, a figure that translates into more than 100 million decorated homes in this country alone.

The tradition of decorating houses, which was once limited to pumpkins and lights, now includes more elaborate elements such as giant skeletons, animated lights and figures of classic horror characters.

“We also enjoy spending time with the neighbors, to see who surprises the most or to see who has the best decorated house. It’s like a competition,” said José Rodríguez, another resident who moved to Florida almost five years ago in search of new opportunities.

Some neighbors explained to VOA that many Latino residents have adopted the tradition of decorating their homes and dressing up in costumes for Halloween. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

Some neighbors explained to VOA that many Latino residents have adopted the tradition of decorating their homes and dressing up for Halloween. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

Halloween, a tradition that crosses borders in Latin America

In Latin American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia, Halloween has gained popularity, especially among young people. Globalization and the influence of American media have encouraged the expansion of this tradition, although in many cases, the celebration adopts local characteristics. In Mexico, for example, although Halloween is celebrated, it remains secondary to the traditional Day of the Dead, which remains the main holiday of the season.

In Argentina and Chile it is also celebrated in some cities, especially in urban areas or in schools and communities with American cultural influence. However, in some countries they consider Halloween to be a foreign celebration and prefer to keep their own traditions alive, such as the patron saint festivals and religious celebrations of each region.

A figure of a skeleton sitting in a chair in front of a house as part of the Halloween decoration in a neighborhood in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

A figure of a skeleton sitting in a chair in front of a house as part of the Halloween decoration in a neighborhood in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

They stand up to the Halloween parties

Halloween has also become one of the most lively and colorful nights of the year thanks to the costume parties, in which the only rule is to be dressed appropriately for the occasion. However, in cities like Miami, authorities have warned about the growth of illegal parties organized in houses, especially those rented specifically for the celebration, which poses a challenge to the peace of the neighborhoods.

In the days before Halloween, temporary establishments are usually set up throughout the country to sell costumes. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

In the days before Halloween, temporary establishments are usually set up throughout the country to sell costumes. (Photo: Antoni Belchi / VOA)

The Miami Police Department emphasizes the importance of respecting the rest of the neighbors, which is why it has been established that the noise and music of these celebrations should not extend beyond midnight. “We ask that everyone comply with the regulations and notify the authorities if they see that there is any danger,” Mike Vega, spokesperson for the Miami police, recently stated, referring to the responsibility of both the attendees and the organizers of these events. .

This phenomenon has led platforms like Airbnb to take preventive measures. According to the company, many users take advantage of the dates to rent properties not for vacation purposes, but to celebrate these Halloween parties.

To combat this inappropriate use, the company is implementing specific defenses in its systems to reduce the risk of nuisance parties in the United States and Canada. “Airbnb is deploying anti-party defenses in the United States and Canada to help reduce the risk of what could become disruptive neighborhood parties,” he told VOAViviana Jordán, spokesperson for the popular short-term private property booking platform.

Airbnb assures that the goal is to “promote positive stays during not only this Halloween holiday, but also for other big holidays” such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Among the security measures, the company has implemented a system that examines reservation attempts for one or two nights in complete accommodations for a single person, thus avoiding those reservations considered high risk.

“They could pose a higher risk of parties, so prevent these reservations from being made through this technology that examines hundreds of signals that may suggest that a reservation is particularly high risk,” adds Jordán.

With these initiatives, both the authorities and the platforms seek to ensure that Halloween continues to be a safe and fun celebration, but without the celebration disturbing the tranquility of the neighborhoods.

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