Halloween, Mexican style

While Dia de los Muertos is religious and family-related, Halloween seems to have crossed the border in a big way. Olga and Humberto's daughter, Olga Elise, and her husband, Roberto, entertained about 75 people, from tiny babies to old ladies (yeah, including me) Saturday night. Almost everyone, including the babies, came in costume. There were little witches, three little butterflies, a trio of cute female demons in their teens/20s, a boy Dracula and a girl Dracula, etc. Olga and Humberto dressed as famed Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. I went as -- what else? -- una turista Americana, complete with bush hat, jeans, sunglasses and camera.


Black paper rat silhouettes outside welcomed us to the party around 5 p.m., and music -- mostly U.S. oldies -- blared. Behind the living/dining area, in the grassy patio, was a large tent with six large round tables. Two long tables along the patio wall held beverages and the platters and bowls of food the guests were bringing -- macaroni salad with bits of jalapeño, little sandwiches, a carrot salad, desserts -- enough for three times as many guests, I think. (Olga had spent most of a day preparing sandwiches of pulled chicken and pork, both in mole sauce. YUM!)

Everybody ate, drank, laughed and talked, and until the rain came, the kids bounced in a bounce house. When the rain hit, the waiter and the guys quickly moved the tables of food and drink into the living room, and the party stayed in high gear. I took lots of pictures -- a good icebreaker for the stranger with limited Spanish. Olga plans to get lots of prints at Costco -- 1 peso (about 8 cents) apiece, and I'll probably print some there, too.

After the rain stopped, boys from about 7 to 12 had a marathon race around the tent, somehow miraculously not colliding with anyone else, though they seemed to be running full tilt almost all the time. The children were enthusiastic but well-behaved, and the parents were tolerant. I never once saw a child reprimanded or punished. On the contrary, the little ones were admired and complimented on their costumes, and the babies made the rounds of their admirers, handed from person to person.

We left about 10:30, just before the karaoke started..