My first memory was in Guatemala (where I lived prior to Nicaragua) El Dia De Los Muertos was a very important/holy day there. There were some US kids that lived in Guatemala and they did go trick or treating. Many Guatemalan kids did also and they went door to door yelling "Trick of Treat for Halloween". Some houses were ready and they gave you candy. Some houses they would say:"We don't celebrate that "Gringo" holiday"; and you got nothing. I remember one kid wore jeans, tennis shoes and a t-shirt and he went as: "An American kid in a foreign country". We thought was a great idea/costume!!!
Frankly I can't remember celebrating Halloween in Nicaragua, but I do remember a costume dance or two @ the school. I think there are some pics of them in my ANS 1965 yearbook.
La Llorona is one of the most amazing legends ever!! She is known from New Mexico to South America. Along with that vast geographical spread, their versions are varied. I remember there was a comic book titled "Leyendas de America", which covered legends from all over America, including the Llorona. In the comic book what I remember is that she was of Aztec background and had one child that she would abandon to go "party" with her other Aztec "homies". She had a child (another legend) known as "El Cipitio" who when his mom was gone when he got hungry ate the ashes from the cooking fire in the home. One night while she out the child went out and drowned in the river, and the Aztec Gods banished her to go travel the river banks looking for her child, and that when she found him she would be forgiven. Of course since he fell in the river the river drained him out into the ocean and she could never find him. In Guatemala she wore a white, long flowing dress and she wailed/cried; hence the name "La Llorona" (The wailer or The Crying Woman). In Guatemala you didn't want to to run into her because she had the face of a horse and if she looked at you you'd freeze in your steps and she would take you away, hoping you were her child.
SOoooo the morale of the story is don't get caught out late at night by the river, cause La Llorona might grab you!!! BOOO!
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