Cultural CelebrationsHispanic culture is filled with holidays, religion, and family, but the culture of each Hispanic country has a different set of customs and beliefs. These Hispanic countries are found in South and Central America. I first noticed the differences in Hispanic culture when my neighbor moved in about three years ago. My family rejects Mexican culture while my neighbor rejects Venezuelan culture. We celebrate many of the same holidays but our traditions are not at all the same. Although Mexicans and Venezuelans share similar cultures, their traditions vary greatly. Mexicans and Venezuelans celebrate Halloween very differently; to the extent that some Venezuelans do not even celebrate this holiday. Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead instead of Halloween. On Day of the Dead, Mexicans build altars and fill them with desserts, tamales and candy for their deceased loved ones, then decorate and clean their graves. These altars are specially designed to welcome deceased loved ones. People are sometimes invited to visit the altars of other families and participate in the gifts or stories involved. In some Pueblos or communities, they would gather food on different altars and eat it at the grave of their loved one. Day of the Dead is a lot like Halloween, but it packs a lot more meaning and spirit. We celebrate this holiday in memory of our loved ones; not in a crying sense, but rather in a joyful sense. We only talk about the good and special times we had with that person. People tell each other their stories and thoughts about the dead to let them know that we still remember their presence. On the other hand, in some Venezuelan communities, they celebrate Halloween exactly like Americans do, but... middle of paper... over the past year. The only custom that exists in Venezuela during the great countdown to midnight is to ring 12 bells in its capital, Caracas. Once the new year started, it's the big party and happy music that I released in honor of the new year. Many Venezuelans write their wishes on a piece of paper before the countdown and then burn them. This custom represents hope. In conclusion, one can find many differences between the two cultures, mainly due to their holiday traditions. Every Hispanic culture is different when it comes to celebrating such holidays. Venezuela seems to have a more open community due to the many parties and celebrations held in the streets. In Mexico, we tend to celebrate our holidays mainly with family and relaxation. Venezuelans and Mexicans have a common culture but their traditions are very different from each other..