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You’re in your classroom grading exams you’ve left to the last minute. It’s been an incredibly busy week. It’s getting late. The sun is beginning to set. The janitor is sweeping the halls and locking classrooms. Exam grades are due in the morning and you still have at least an hour’s worth of grading to go. The janitor says he’s leaving for the evening and if you could turn off the light before you go home. It’s night outside and you’ve finally finished grading your last paper. You pack your bag. Turn off the light switch. Close the door behind you and head down the hallway to exit the school. You don’t make it past 5 steps when you hear the loud crash of glass breaking. The sound came from your classroom. You take 5 steps back. The window pane of your door has been shattered and glass is all over the floor. You peek into the pitch black classroom. You turn the doorknob. Slowly open the door. Flip the light switch on… and let out a blood-curdling scream…

What did you see in the classroom that made you scream?

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Comments below are open. Please add any comments below from your discussion of the below holidays. You can also add a new post by clicking the plus sign above this post.

1. New Year's Celebrations: New Year's is one of the most significant holidays in Russia. How is New Year's celebrated, and what are the key traditions and customs associated with this holiday?

2. Orthodox Christmas: In Russia, Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on a different date than in many other countries. Can you explain the traditions and customs associated with Russian Orthodox Christmas, and how it differs from Western Christmas celebrations?

3. Maslenitsa Festival: Maslenitsa is a joyful and colorful festival in Russia. How is Maslenitsa celebrated, and what are the cultural and historical significance of this holiday?

4. Victory Day (May 9th): Victory Day commemorates the end of World War II. How is this important holiday celebrated in Russia, and what is the role of parades and military displays in the festivities?

5. Russian Easter: Easter is another holiday with deep religious significance in Russia. How is Russian Easter celebrated, and what are some of the unique traditions and rituals associated with this holiday?

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Click the link above to explore an illustrated guide about Día de Muertos.

Then discuss the below questions (any question, any order) in your breakout room:

Russian context question: In Russia, are there any cultural traditions whereby you commemorate loved ones who have passed away?

1. Distinguishing Traditions: How does the Day of the Dead differ from Halloween, both in terms of its origins and the focus of the celebration?

2. Symbolism and Significance: What are the key symbols and elements of the Day of the Dead, such as sugar skulls and marigold flowers? What is the significance of these symbols in the celebration?

3. Ofrendas and Altars: What is an ofrenda, and what items are typically placed on them during Dia de los Muertos? How do these altars serve as a way to remember and honor deceased loved ones?

4. La Calavera Catrina: Who is La Calavera Catrina, and what is her significance in the Day of the Dead celebration? How does her character reflect a certain message about human equality?

5. Spiritual Beliefs: How do the beliefs about the deceased's journey through different afterlives and the role of a dog guide resonate with indigenous mythology in the Mesoamerican region during Dia de los Muertos?

6. Cultural Evolution: The celebration of the Day of the Dead has evolved over time, with people dressing up as skeletons. How have these playful portrayals of skeletons become symbols of life after death, and what might this represent in the context of the holiday?

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Día de los Muertos is a two day celebration on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

It celebrates the remembrance of family members and friends who have died.

Lea esta historia en Español
The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is often confused as the "Mexican Halloween" because of its use of skeleton imagery and the time of the year it is celebrated. Running from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2., it is an indigenous holiday that originated in southern Mexico and celebrates the remembrance of family members and friends who have died.

"Halloween has nothing to do with ancestors," said Stanley Brandes, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. "Day of the Dead has everything to do with deceased relatives. That's the basis of it."

Popular Day of the Dead imagery such as face painting and colorful paper flowers shows up in late October. But do you know the elements that make up an ofrenda, the traditional altar, or what sugar skulls mean during Dia de los Muertos?

From traditional altar items to what foods are used to celebrate the Day of the Dead, primarily in Mexico, Central America and the United States, read on to learn more about this holiday.

Flowers, food, altars and music are an essential part of the festivities. Family members clean and decorate the gravesites of loved ones with skulls, garlands, candles and marigold flowers. Foods such as sugar skulls, sweetbread rolls and drinks are placed alongside clay decorations and personal items on ofrendas, or home altars, to memorialize those who have died. Family members believe their loved ones will feast on the "essence" of the foods from the altars - either a table at home or on the grave itself.

Ofrendas have a variety of symbols and items that are reminders of those who have died. Here are a few items that can be found on Dia de los Muertos alters.

Garlands made of paper and flowers are hung along streets and homes. Bright orange marigold flowers, also referred to as "flowers of the dead," are believed to help attract souls of loved ones to ofrendas by their scent.

The most recognizable symbols of Dia de los Muertos are the skeletons. Today, people dress up in elaborate outfits with skull faces. Skeletons are a playful symbol of life after death.

In 1910, La Calavera Catrina, meaning "elegant skull," was featured as a skeletal figure in a fancy dress and became one of the many prominent symbols of the Day of the Dead. Her figure was first created by satirical cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada in Mexico. It's meant as a mocking symbol to those seeking political and social status: Underneath it all, humans are all the same - a bundle of bones.

The underworld of indigenous mythology was thought to be divided into nine regions, depending on how the deceased died. The spirits would travel from the alternate afterlives and the mortal world. Within the Mesoamerican region, it is believed a dog guides the deceased across a river of water into the afterlife.

Colorful mystical creatures called Alebrijes were introduced to the holiday in the 1936 by artist Pedro Linares in Mexico City. With exaggerated bodies with stripes and dots, they are considered creatures from our dreams and spirit guides. They are typically made of wood or papier-mache.

Mictlantecuhtli, the god of the dead, and Mictecacihuatl, his wife and the goddess of death, rule the underworld of Mictlán. She is the protector of the departed, helping them into their next stages.

Because of the lack of Mesoamerican influence in the northern regions of Mexico, the Day of the Dead was not celebrated throughout the country. During the early 21st century, the celebrations began to expand from the southernmost regions of Mexico and became the national holiday it is today.
Contributing: William Cummings, USA TODAY
SOURCE dayofthedead.holiday/history; britannica.com; blog.xcaret.com and USA TODAY research

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What is the Day of the Dead holiday? An illustrated guide

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Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday filled with prominent symbols to remember lost loved ones.

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Video 1: Discussion questions:

1. The young woman in the video discusses how Halloween is celebrated (or not) in Russia. What are your overall thoughts about the video?

2. Have you ever celebrated Halloween? If so, how did you celebrate it?

3. Are there any traditional holidays in your country that are similar to Halloween? If yes, what are they and how are they celebrated?

4. How do you feel about the influence of Western culture on your country's traditions and celebrations?

5. Do you think it's important to preserve and celebrate your own cultural traditions? Why or why not?

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Halloween in Russia: a western invasion or just a holiday?

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prompt: a female team leader sitting at a roundtable with diverse faculty working on a project with education technology

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Cartoon Teachers laughing in the spotlight on stage with red curtains and the audience laughing

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A female teacher wearing an ugly Christmas sweater