Halloween/Dia de los Muertos Crafty Bits

[selchie]

I pulled out my Halloween decorations, and found some things I made last year from modeling clay & craft paint. I know Halloween is primarily an American phenomenon, but I plan to celebrate in NZ. Here are some wee Jack O'Lanterns:

Mexico, and perhaps other Latin American countries celebrate Dia de los Muertos on 1 & 2 November. They decorate with skulls, skeletons and marigolds to honor those who have died, especially in the last year. I believe it also celebrates mortality in general, so skeletons might be custom made for living people, too. Maybe not, but I did:


I had to make some jolly mariachis:


The necklace and earrings (1 shown) were inspired by what I've heard of the east Indian goddess Kali, who wears a necklace of 13 skulls from demons she has slain:

Somewhere I have photos of carved Jack O'Lanterns from Halloweens past. I'll dig them up soon.

[MotherBear]

Excellent, Selchie. We do celebrate Halloween in the UK as well with pumkins carved out as lanterns and kids dressed as ghouls and ghosties going round trick or treating.

Halloween goes way back in history. I think 'trick or treat' is the American past-time that has spread all over. Just glad we're not living where we used to in the UK where 'Trick' always came before anyone even knocked your door, and usually had bricks attached to it :icon_sad:

[selchie]

Well, OK I meant all the trick-or-treatie decorations and such. But I'm glad that the US doesn't hog all the fun. It's been my favourite holiday since I can remember. I love the opportunity to explore a different persona, perhaps something from deep within.

The following photo is from 1989, when I worked in a winery lab. I called it "Larry", from the twisted, servile critter from Wizards (it was Wizards, wasn't it?), and told people it was me with the inside out. I freaked out Frank, one office mate of Karin's when I came bounding in crying "Mathster?! Mathster?!, then sniffed his trouser cuff, pulled out a shaker and began salting his leg. He was relieved when Karin arrived, and I moved on to fawn over her. I had never met Frank before that. Aah, memories.

Note to self: If selchie is holding salt, run....

[SteveyC]

Note to Self: Selchie is a freaky deaky freaking lunatic!!!! :icon_eek: I have no idea what you just said, no idea at all. Salt, fawning, trouser cuff, what the heck!!??

[jamesthecarman]

Question to self: Selchie is still in another hemisphere right?

Note to self: Actually, maybe she could be a valuable addition to Al Sheepa.

[MotherBear]

You seem to be desperate for new members for Al Sheepa, James, so here?s a new recruit I rounded up for you. Seems a little lost and looks like something left over from last Christmas. I?ve heard of a Christmas turkey but not a Christmas sheep. Sincerely hope she hasn't had a run in with a Bangladeshi driver. That would be really baaaaaaa-d.

[selchie]

Note to Self: Selchie is a freaky deaky freaking lunatic!!!! [smiley=icon_eek.gif]

Aww, you say the sweetest things! I'll save a shaker of Cajun spice just for you.

[selchie]

OK, so it looks like our American way of celebrating Halloween has gone back across the Pond, and isn't sitting well with everyone.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...01&sc=1000
I wonder if folks will start boycotting Christmas because of its commercialism and pagan origins :icon_wink: .