Cultural Celebrations: Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos

Camila brings a fresh perspective to Spanish class, helping classmates appreciate language and culture differences.

### Embracing Cultural Differences: Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos
* 🎃 "Don't treat people differently because of their language. **Embrace it, and learn to appreciate the difference.**"
* 📅 Halloween, originally known as **All Hallows Eve**, is celebrated on **October 31st** and marks the **end of summer and the food harvest**.
* 🎉 Traditions include carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating, with students sharing their **insights about Halloween in America**.
* 🇲🇽 Camila introduces Dia De Los Muertos, a Mexican celebration on November 2nd, where families **honor their ancestors with food and costumes**.
* 👻 Unlike Halloween, Dia De Los Muertos allows children to **trick-or-treat while celebrating their heritage** through unique customs like making **Pan de muerto**.
* 📚 The class is tasked with researching Halloween-like celebrations from around the world, showcasing the **diversity of cultural traditions**.
* 🍬 Amidst discussions, Crystal expresses **jealousy towards Camila's fluency**, raising questions about **fairness in language classes**.
* 🤝 Ultimately, the students learn to **appreciate each other's backgrounds**, fostering a **supportive environment for language learning and cultural exchange**.

(Coming Up in this Video) (Coming Up in this Video) Maybe you would have time to help me (Coming Up in this Video) with my Spanish pronunciation? (Coming Up in this Video) How about Wednesday, after class? (Coming Up in this Video) Great. It's a date. (Coming Up in this Video) Perfect, then. (Coming Up in this Video) (Coming Up in this Video) A date!!! All right, class, welcome to second year Spanish. ¿Están felices por este año? What did he say? He said this year. Oh, he said, we don't have to take Spanish this year. No, I think he said something about being happy. Now I'd like to introduce to you all our brand new foreign exchange student. Come on in. Hola como santos. Felices al aquí. Mi llamo es Camila. Hola, my llamo is Brent.

Why are you talking to her, and you should be speaking English? Clearly, she doesn't know any. Mucho gusto, Brent, and I can also speak English. Camila, go ahead, take a seat. Everyone else, please open your textbooks to Page 123. Yes, Crystal. Why is she in Spanish 2? Shouldn't she have to start in Spanish one like the rest of us? That's a very good question, Crystal. I'm glad you asked it. She is here in Spanish 2 because she tested out of Spanish one because she's fluent. Can't she test out of Spanish 2 also? She's going to ruin it for the rest of us! What's wrong with that? (Narrator) Crystal does think Camila should be in Spanish class, (Narrator) because she already knows how to speak the language. Well, Crystal, they don't offer testing out of Spanish two.

but I am very glad that Camilla is in the class because she can give us a fresh perspective on the language and help us all learn a little better. I know I will. We don't need that. I know it Muy Bienee already. All right, class. Today we'll be focusing on basic conjugations. All right, that's it for today, but before you go, I want to first announce our October project. As you all know, it's that time of year again, Halloween. So here in America, we celebrate Halloween. But in other parts of the world, they have similar celebrations. Each one of you is going to pick a country or culture. And tell us, what's their version of Halloween? How does that sound? Oh, my grandma said we shouldn't celebrate Halloween, even though I still trick or treated. What should I do my report on? You can pick any culture you like.

I want to do mine on Halloween in America because I already know the most about that. All right, Crystal. Looking forward to hearing it. What? That's not fair. Well, I already called it. Yes, Brent. Well, if I can't do mine on America, what am I supposed to do mine on? Well, you might have to do some research, Brent, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Wow. Just what I need! More homework. Well, I already know what I'm doing mine about. That's great, Camila. Looks like you're already fitting in rebel high. That's it for today, I look forward to hearing your reports next time, and don't forget about the test afterwards. Hey, Camila, wait up. Actually, it's pronounced Camila. Pronunciation. That's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. Oh, sure. What would you like to know?

Well, I was wondering if maybe you would have time to help me with my Spanish pronunciation. Actually, that sounds fun. Maybe you can tell me more about Rebel High. Oh yeah, there's tons of stuff to know. When would you have time to get together? How about Wednesday, after class? Great. It's a date. Perfect, then. A date? (Narrator) Crystal is so jealous of Camila, (Narrator) that she doesn't even want Brent (Narrator) to be tutored by her. I thought you'd enjoy having something a little different for dinner. What do you mean? I've had sushi before. I even brought my own chopsticks. This is not sushi. These are tamales, whether it's today's or tomallees. These rolls look really good. I wonder what they call them. It's not sushi. It's called Mexican food.

Oh, great. You're really taking this whole Spanish thing too seriously, aren't you? There's more to life than just burgers and pizza, you know? Oh, really? Is that why you're going on a date with Camila? It's tutoring as in a tutoring date. I saw the way you were looking at her in class. She seems interesting. I like interesting people. You're not supposed to like interesting people. You're supposed to like me. Well, like we're boyfriend and girlfriend or anything. ¿Qué parte del español quieres saber más? What did you just say? I said, what part of Spanish are you having the most trouble with? Yeah. All the all of what you just said, all of that. I'm not good with foreign languages. Uno. Yes. Dos? Yes! OK, so let's start with the fundamentals. Sounds good. ¿Cómo se llama? Oh, I know this one.

Me llamo es Brent. That's good. Cinco. Oh, Tres! how would I say, what is the weather today? you would say, ¿Cómo está el clima hoy? Oh, I get it. Como está el klima hoy? Si, muy bien. What else would you like to know? What else would you like to know? A cuatro? Cuatro? Yes! That's cinco. Yes! Ahhh. Seis? How do you say? Cómo se dice? You are very pretty. Se dice Estás Muy Bonita. Oh, that's how you say it to a girl. How do you say it to a boy that you are very handsome? Se dice Estás Muy Guapo Guapo? Oh, really? Do you think so? (Giggles) Yes Sevente I was close. I got to tell you, I feel a lot more confident going into this test.

I'm glad. Can we set up another time to study? Si. Ahh, once? Diez! Those Spanish. They have a word for everything! Brent, are you ready for those Spanish tests? Oh, I sure am. I've been having Camila help me. What? And by the way, it's Camilla. Speaking of which? Hi guys. I brought you guys some Conchas. Those smell so good. What are they? Oh, they're Mexican pastries made by my abuela. Oh, Abuela, I know what that means. Really? Was that? It means grandma in español. Muy Bien Brent. Oh, don't you mowee bee inn him? I'm the only one who should be doing that. Oh, can I get one of those? Me too. And a pink one for you. Oh, gracious. These are so good.

I want to meet your abuela and thank her. You're not going to meet her. She's just using those to buy friends. No, in my family, we like to welcome new friends and neighbors with food. I think it's a great tradition. We need more people here at Rebel High. Like you. OK, clase. As we discussed, we're going to talk about celebrations like Halloween around the world. Who wants to go first? Crystal, let's hear from you. Halloween in America is celebrated on October 31st, and they call it Halloween. The most notable part about Halloween is that little kids dress up in costumes and they go door to door in a ritual we call trick or treating. Trick or treat is actually when strangers give candy to little kids. I took a sample from my brother last year. So as a reward for watching my presentation, I'm going to give all of you a piece of this candy.

from Halloween last year. All right, thank you very much. Parker? I'm doing my report on China, and the closest thing they have to Halloween is something called the Hungry Ghost Festival. This celebration occurs on the seventh month of their lunar calendar, which happens to be the scariest month of their year. This event is different than Halloween in America because instead of getting candy for yourself, they cook food and leave it out for the ghosts to eat. And at the end of the festival, the Chinese want the ghosts to go home so they light lanterns that the ghosts follow until next year. Thank you, Parker. Brent? My report is on Ireland. What most people don't know is Halloween was actually invented in Ireland. It was an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. And like in America, Samhain happens on the last day of October. People in ancient cultures would wear costumes and light bonfires to scare off the ghosts.

Twelve hundred years ago, the pope decided the next day would be called All Saints Day. Because it was the day before All Saints Day, it became All Hallows Eve, and later it became known simply as Halloween. They used this holiday to celebrate the end of summer and the food harvest before a long winter. They participated in traditions such as carving pumpkins and later came up with a new tradition called trick or treating. In fact, today I brought one of those ancient Irish traditional items, a pumpkin, soon to become what they call a Jack-O-Lantern. Awesome, Brant. Very enlightening. You're welcome. In fact, I'm going to go do my own tradition. I like to call cooking pumpkin seeds. Camila, let's hear what you have to say. Well, my report is about how they celebrate Halloween in Mexico. It's called Dia De Los Muertos. And Dia De Los Muertos

is the one day a year where ancestors get to come back to life, and we celebrate by putting on costumes and wearing masks like this. And we also place food on the Altar de muertos that our family ancestors really, really liked. The children dress up in Katrina costumes and wear makeup and eat Pan de muerto. Unlike Halloween in America, The De De Los Muertos is celebrated on November second, but the kids still can go trick or treating on Halloween. Wonderful, Camila. That was fascinating. Muchas Gracias por su atención. Great work, everybody. OK. I hope you studied because it's time for your prueba. You will have 15 minutes for this test, and remember your grade depends on it. Parker, close your book. It won't help you now. All right, everybody. Time's up. Pens down. Turning those tests. Excuse me, Mr. Cruz.

What is it, Crystal? Camila was cheating. What makes you think that? She finished in half the time. Obviously, someone gave her the answers. (Narrator) Crystal thinks Camila is cheating. (Narrator) But what's the real truth? We'll deal with that after class, Crystal. Thank you, everybody. You can go. Leave your tests on your desk. Not you, Crystal. I'd like to talk to you for a moment. So, Crystal, why do you think Camila was cheating? No one can do a test that fast. Are you aware she's fluent above grade level? Well, then what's she doing here? That's cheating the rest of us? Speaking of cheating, what's that on your arm? My arm? Why do you want to see that? Just humor me. Let me see your arm. Just my arm. What's wrong with that? Let me see the other one. Turn it around.

OK, fine. You caught me. Well, since you've been caught red-handed, or in this case, red-armed, think you'll be taking Spanish one and two again with me next year! Don't treat people differently because of their language. Embrace it, and learn to appreciate the difference.

New Student is MADE FUN FOR her SPANISH on Dia De Los Muertos. Totally Studios.

Totally Studios

Brent and Camila are preparing for Spanish tests, with Camila helping Brent.

She brings Mexican pastries, Conchas, made by her abuela, and they discuss their upcoming presentations.

Crystal is jealous of Camila and doesn't want Brent to be tutored by her, while Camila offers to help Brent with his Spanish pronunciation.

The speaker's family welcomes new friends with food, highlighting the importance of community.

Crystal shares that Halloween in America is celebrated on October 31st with kids trick-or-treating for candy.

Parker discusses China's Hungry Ghost Festival, where food is left out for ghosts, and lanterns are lit to guide them home.

Brent reveals that Halloween originated in Ireland with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where costumes and bonfires were used to scare off ghosts.

Día de los Muertos is a day when ancestors are believed to return to life, celebrated with costumes, masks, and food on the altar.

The celebration takes place on November 2nd, but children in the class also go trick-or-treating on Halloween.

The teacher announces an October project, asking students to pick a country or culture to explore their version of Halloween.

Crystal suspects Camila of cheating on the test due to her quick completion time, unaware of Camila's fluency and above-grade-level skills.

The conversation between Crystal and the teacher reveals Crystal's own questionable actions and her interest in Camila.

The scene shifts to the introduction of Camila as the new foreign exchange student, setting the stage for a potential connection with Brent.

Halloween's origins trace back to All Hallows Eve, the day before All Saints Day, celebrated with traditions like carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

The holiday marked the end of summer and the food harvest before winter.

In the classroom, there is a discussion about language differences and Camila's fluency in Spanish, leading to questions about her placement in Spanish 2.