While many across the country were celebrating Halloween this past week, the Orbis Spark Plugs (our superstar social committee) took our celebrations to the next level by planning and hosting an entire week of cultural activities.
Diwali – Festival of Lights
The events began at the start of Monday when our team decorated the entire office in lights to celebrate Diwali. Diwali is a five-day festival representing symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. During the festival, those who celebrate illuminate their homes, temples and workspaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles, and lanterns. Diwali is also marked with fireworks. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing mithai (a dessert). Our team also brought in a number of delicious treats, including Cuban pressed coffee, traditional Mexican candy, Pan Dulce, homemade banana bread, homemade chocolate chip cookies and assorted Indian desserts made
Day of the Dead
On Wednesday, our team added another event to the activities with recognition of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. This is a multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to remember friends and family members who have passed away. Those that celebrate, view death not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because it’s believed that their loved ones awake and celebrate with them. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using calaveras (edible or decorative skull), aztec marigolds (Mexican native flower), and consuming the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Our team celebrated this event by bringing in memorabilia of love ones who have passed away. An alter was set up and decorated for team members to place these items on which remained there for the week.
Halloween
On Thursday, our team, too, celebrated Halloween. Halloween A celebration dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns. Our team celebrated by dressing up and having a costume contest! After an office vote, Cindy Sanchez, one of GIS Technicians, won first place after she dressed up as a traditional Day of the Dead themed “Sugar Skull”. Corey Turner, Director of GIS Services, came in a close second dressed as David from the comedy film, Masterminds.
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday week!
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