November the 2nd is "Día de los muertos" in Mexico, which means "the day of the dead". To a growing number of people across the world, this period of time also coincides with the celebration of Halloween, a time to watch scary movies and dress-up such as Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers. For children, it is the fun time of the year for “trick or treat” when they get to eat way too many candies! Similar to Día de los Muertos, Halloween was originally meant to honor the dead, including saints and martyrs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween).

Today, Día de los Muertos is still celebrated across Mexico, alongside Halloween, its Western version. My wife and I wrote this article together, reflecting upon what it means to be a mixed couple who share different traditions. She is French, I am Mexican and we recently acquired a Canadian nationality. We make a point of celebrating events important to the countries we were born in (France and Mexico) and the country we chose to live in (Canada). Halloween allows us to proudly take part in events important to our Canadian community. Beyond this, it shapes our international citizenships as a worldly one in the sense that France and Mexico are part of a globalized world that welcomes different traditions. On the other hand, Día de los Muertos keeps me attached to my original roots and culture. It also provides us the opportunity to view Canada as a diverse country that loves to learn about others.