Every Halloween is memorable to me because I am with family.
In my home country we don't celebrate Halloween like other countries do. We don't have 'trick or treat' or 'jack-o-lanterns'. Costume parties were adopted just recently as part of a school's extracurricular activity or for private parties.
My family's Halloween celebration starts with preparation of the graves in the cemetery. The family,usually brothers or uncles, go to the cemetery to clear the weeds and grass that grew over the course of the year. Graves are painted white and tombstones are cleaned and repainted if necessary. The women are usually the ones preparing the food and drinks.
During 1st and 2nd of November, families take a time off their busy schedules to go and visit the graves. It's like an informal family reunion because everyone drops in and visits the graves of even the most distant relatives.
Flowers and candles are brought for the graves, food and drinks are offered to visitors. People usually stay for the whole day keeping the candles lit and catching up on family news. Some even stay overnight on family mausoleums or tents celebrating.
In the Philippines, we celebrate Halloween remembering our departed offering not only candles, food and flowers but also time. We sit, pray and remember not how our family member died but how they lived.
It's a day for reminiscing the old times when the people we love are still with us. It's a celebration of life.