News
Halloween and Día de los Muertos
Although they take place at the same time of year, often on back-to-back days, and have related themes of mortality and connecting with the spirit world, Halloween and Día de los Muertos have different cultural roots and have vastly different meanings today: Halloween has become largely commercialized and irreverent, while Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) maintains its strong spiritual foundation.
At Shawnigan, we make time for Halloween and Día de los Muertos, incorporating both special occasions into our calendar.
Halloween came first, with festivities for the Houses and the School as a whole. Some Houses held pumpkin-carving contests and other events. Last Friday, students wore costumes all day and paraded through Marion Hall at lunchtime.
The big Halloween draw took place on Saturday when staff turned the forest into a “fully immersive, Disney-ride-style haunting experience.” Wearing full zombie and ghoul makeup and fitting attire, staff members brought the dark woods to life for an unforgettable evening.
“Many brave students risked the adventure through the forest, though not all made it back unchanged, with several succumbing to the darkness and joining the zombie fleet along the way,” Event Coordinator Mr. Blair Sturrock rhapsodized. “All in all, the evening was a huge success, sending students back to their dorms thoroughly spooked and ready for an evening of nightmares.”
Earlier on Saturday, Día de los Muertos was marked by a Chapel service with significant participation from Shawnigan’s Mexican students. The service featured student speeches about the importance of the holiday on a personal level, as well as musical performances, and colourful decorations.
Members of the Hispanic Affinity Group turned the altar into a Día de los Muertos ofrenda, using traditional and modern decorations, including salt that Dr. Molly Lai harvested themself in Hawaii.
“Día de Muertos is similar to celebrations here in Canada and in the U.S. in that traditions change from family to family and region to region,” Spanish teacher Dr. Jennifer Kozak explained. “We do our best to include everyone.”
Decorations included cempasuchiles (marigolds), candles (battery powered for safety), fruits and vegetables, pan de muertos (bread of the dead), mariposas (butterflies to represent metamorphosis), salt (representing Earth), water in a chalice, incense (representing air), and papel picado (traditional Mexican cut paper). The flowers and fruits and vegetables are of the reusable variety, while the bread is purchased each year and eaten after Chapel.
Spanish language learners also contributed decorated sugar skulls that they prepared in class with Dr. Kozak and Mrs. Lisa Ehle, and the entire School is invited to bring photos of their loved ones to share on the ofrenda alongside the traditional woven blankets and table runners, decorated ceramic skulls and tiny alebrijes (mythical colourful hybrid animals that protect and care for our loved ones).
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
