Calabaza.

Calabaza.

Pumpkin. 

My word of the week (and everyone else's).

I'm beginning to understand how you're suppose to accumulate vocab while on year abroad. After having spent 12 hours of teaching Halloween over the past 2 weeks I've cottoned on to a few words. I'm now fully equipped to dress up as/identify a fantasma, bruja, hombre-lobo, la muerte, gato negro or vampiro.

I also have learned more about its origins than I ever knew previously (ie. nil); it originates from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which later merged into All Hallows' Eve before All Hallows' Day or All Saints' Day. This is particularly interesting for Asturias, which is rooted in Celtic heritage yet does not officially celebrate Halloween. I was therefore particularly dismayed when, upon asking if anyone knew where it came from, one girl replied with the USA.  

Despite carving 2 of my own, I had a peep in the Jardín Botánico for its 'Calabazas y Calaveras' (pumpkins and skulls) exhibition. Perfect autumnal weather with bright sunshine and crisp air and every pumpkin variety that ever graced the Earth. 

They also hold a pumpkin competition (the biggest looked like they were on steroids and the 'most original' looked like they needed a bit of help). I also saw strawberry plants bearing fruit despite the season. 

It has been a week for good pumpkin related deeds also. An old couple asked me if I could take photos with a smart phone (I don't own one...) and gave me their's which I restored to photo instead of video setting, to both their and my amazement, so they could photograph the pumpkins hanging on the wall. While walking back from school with my carved pumpkin a young couple caught up with me to ask where I got it from; I later saw them walking away with 2.  

By the time the 31st arrived I was pretty Halloween-ed out to be honest.