No Para Siempre en la Tierra... Sólo un Poco Aquí by El Cerro

E d u c at e , E n h a n c e , E n r i c h

(2021)

ASU CQ. 001

el cerro

“el eterno presente”

Content

ghosts on campus By Chloe Sofia Zavala Rymer

the gurdon light: the story of the capps sisters By Gabriella Gonzales

the querétaro hauntings By Ellieny Farelas Bello

EL MUERTO AL POZO Y EL VIVO AL GOZO By Andrea Lara López

remembering our ancestors By Eloisa Pinon López

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six movies you must watch during halloween season at the dorms By Karyme Gómez

Welcome To Our Magazine

the night of the living ads By Santiago Minutti

parting ways By Maximiliano Guzmán Vargas

house By Dr. María Montserrat Juárez Aubry

the pharaoh’s golden army By Gia Poh

This month’s issue is quite spooky. The theme is “Not forever on this Earth, only a bit of time here”. This assorted collection of scary and chilling stories, poems, and articles aren’t just to scare you, though. They also aim to celebrate and honor the dead. We know Halloween is just around the corner, and we’re all excited to dress up and go trick or treating, but the Day of the Dead is another really important holiday and tradition here in Mexico, and we wanted it to be a part of our magazine. We hope that you find our issue interesting and that you learn at least some things about these holidays. More importantly, we wish you a thrilling Halloween night and Day of the Dead. Special thanks to everyone who contributed in any way to this month’s issue. El Cerro wouldn’t be possible without your submissions. So if you’re interested in writing again, or submitting work for the first time, please email us at elcerrodigital@gmail.com or visit elcerro.digital so that we may work together on future issues. El Cerro is a student magazine that portrays contributing students’ and faculty’s ideas, views and opinions. It does not reflect the official opinions of Arkansas State University.

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EL MUERTO AL POZO Y EL VIVO AL GOZO:

Celebrating Day of the Dead in Querétaro

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By Andrea Lara López state where it is practiced. The state of Quéretaro is known for its rich history and robust cultural heritage. The abundance of Día de Muertos events all over the territory has made Querétaro one of the preferred destinations for tourists during late October and early November.

he celebration of Día de Muer tos (Day of the Dead) is an in valuable part of Mexican culture. All the way back in the pre-co lonial era, the deceased were celebrated by their families with the intent of guiding their way to and from Mictlán—the indigenous version of the afterlife.

This tradition even endured the Spanish colonization, blending catholic ritualistic elements with the indigenous traditions to create the cele bration we know and love to day. There are as many ways to celebrate Día de Muertos as there are communities in México, and there are several interesting variations of this festivity depending on the

“This legendary tradition is a huge part of Mexican identity.”

In the capital city of Santiago de Querétaro, the Day of the Dead Festival is a must-see for citizens and tourists alike. The historical streets of the city become lined with the traditional skulls and papel picado. As the entrancing scent of cempasúchil flowers fills the air, you will be able to experience the musical, visual, and even gastronom ical delights that Day of the Dead has to offer. Of course, a festivity like this can’t be complete without an altar for remembrance. Querétaro blows this tradition out of the park with its spectacular Altar Monumental, a massive instal lation that honors the life of an illustrious citizen, and gets bigger and better every year. This is all free to view down town, and you can enrich your experience by participating in the broad offer of season al-themed activities around the city. When it comes to celebrating, the rest of Querétaro doesn’t stay behind. If you are look

Credits: Unsplash

ing for a far more intimate way to experi ence this tradition, then the state’s Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) are absolutely worth a visit. A short ride away from Santiago, the colonial village of Bernal is famous for its landmark monolith. However, if visitors come for the famous Peña de Bernal, they stay for the village’s charming atmosphere, colonial architecture, and delicious food. During Day of the Dead, the town is adorned with mari golds, skulls, and other seasonal motifs, and the Tours de Leyendas become an obligatory attraction for those who want to immerse themselves in the mystery and folklore of

Credits: Unsplash

the town. The town of Tequisquiapan is also a popular destination, as tourists come to see the dazzling Catrina parade. There really is no shortage of Pueblos Mágicos to visit during Day of the Dead in Querétaro, each with its own way of celebrating. The municipalities of Tolimán and Amealco are also noteworthy for their celebrations, perfect for those who seek lesser-known attractions in the state. The otomí-chichimeca indigenous people of these municipalities bring a more spiritual approach to the Day of the Dead festivities. Locals pay homage to their deceased loved ones at the municipal cemetery or their family chapels. They bring food, drinks, candles, and flowers to their family members, and pray for the eternal repose of their loved ones, as well as for the health of those still living. This is also an opportunity for people to reconnect with their community, honoring the lives of those gone before them with cheers and animated conversation. This legendary tradition is a huge part of Mexican identity. It is a chance for us to get back in touch with our culture and heritage, and what better way to preserve this tradition than to take a trip around the best spots the beautiful state of Querétaro has to offer.

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REMEMBERING OUR ANCESTORS

day of the dead in oaxaca, México By Eloisa Pinon López

o para siem pre en la tierra… sólo un poco aquí” is a meaning ful phrase telling us that one day, each of us will die. We do not stay permanently in the world of the living. This quote di rectly relates to a very im portant date for the Mex ican culture to remember those who are beyond, Day of the Dead. It is a Mexican tradition where a huge party is organized. It is believed that the souls of deceased loved ones visit the world of the liv ing. In this celebration of the dead, death does not represent an absence but a living presence.

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In the state of Oaxaca, the celebration begins three weeks before the festivi ty date. Day of the dead starts withcalendasin the center of town. A calenda is a type of parade that means the first day of the month, but here it is executed every weekend until the 31, which is the Holiday. Thecalendaruns through 10 streets of the town. Regional music, -

Credits: Unsplash

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mezcal, chocolate, corn, pan de muerto, is offered to the public. Sometimes they throw candies and light fireworks. In mid-October, three important pantheons ornaments are placed in the graves: The Panthe on Xoxo, The General Pantheon, and Pantheon Jalatlaco. The floor in this place is full ofcempasuch itlflowers. The cempasu chitl, also known as mar igold, represents the sun and guides the loved ones to altars. They are used to illuminate the path of the deceased, either to con nect it with the spiritual and physical world. The altar must be ready by October 28 even though the Day of the Dead is officially celebrated No vember 1 and 2. This is to

leave time on October 30 and 31 to commemorate children´s souls separately. A different pantheon is visited during the night. Those who know say that this tradition began many years ago. People attend ed the cemetery at 11 pm to pray and wait for their deceased to return from beyond at 3 am. As the ceremony ends, people walk back home accompa nied by their loved ones´ souls, where altars were already waiting for them. Altars are placed in a particular home area, and it is filled with the things that the deceased enjoyed in life. Most Oaxaqueños wear makeup and dress asca trinasandcatrines.The clothing varies, but the ones that are repeated the most, belong to three

Credits: Unsplash

regions of Oaxaca, Tuxtepec (flor de piña), Valles centrales (chinas oaxaqueñas), and the Istmo of Tehuantepec (tehuanas). The most outstanding piece of clothing is of the Istmo of Tehuantepec, a velvet blouse and skirt with white lace, flower decorations of different types. The skirt reaches the ankles; it is rolled twice and tied with a bow to secure it. Accessories are large and thick gold necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Next, a bun or braids are combed in the head, and a flower headdress is placed that combines the clothing—the position the headdress is placed on means your marital status. Next, a headband with ribbons is placed over the hairstyle, and on that, the resplandor is put. The resplandor is a patterned fabric that is starched to achieve the vertical effect. In the days leading up to the Day of the Dead, the Government of Oaxaca organizes different cultural activities related to this festivity. Among the most interesting is the altars contest that takes place on the city’s tourist walkway. The street altar contest is held between schools and serves to teach visitors to the city this tradition. At the same

time, it develops the creativity of the students. What is put on the altar? Oaxacan families place altars inside their homes. Altars must have a minimum of three levels. In the upper part, photographs are placed, along with a cross, copal, or incense. It helps keep away evil spirits and is the step of life. The cross means the fourth cardinal point. There is mezcal or whisky, pan de yema, pan de muerto, the gift that the living give to the dead, natural peanuts, sugar and chocolate skulls, and dark chocolate bars in the second level. The third level consists of the food preferences of the deceased, fruit like hawthorn and medlars, a handful of salt. The main element is a glass of water, candles, and cloud flowers. A red bow is made in the back part, and an arch of cempasuchitl of white, purple, and orange colors. White is the sky, orange is the earth, which guides the deceased to the altar, purple is death, mourning. In the front of the ofrenda, papel picado is placed, which means the union between life and death. The candles are scattered among the three levels, they symbolize love and are the guide for the deceased, so when they arrive, they can enjoy and eat the ofrendas. Once the altar is settled, no one can touch anything at all. i s s u e 0 0 1

THE QUERÉTARO HAUNTINGS

WHERE TO VISIT YOUR HALLOWEEN NIGHT By Ellieny Farelas Bello

alloween is just around the cor ner and many are excited to visit the various haunted places in Mexico. Here in Querétaro, if you are not a local, you might be wondering if there are any places you can visit to satisfy your Halloween thrills. Rest assured that even though our campus is far from civilization, there are still a few nearby places you can visit this year. From a haunted house to the tragic murders of a mother and her kids, and mysterious disappearances, Querétaro will not disappoint you this Halloween.

The first haunted place is the Casa de la Zacatecana. This place is more popular and known among the locals. What used to be a beauti ful mansion, turned into a cursed one that became the infamous legend it is today. The story behind the spooky mansion is centered around the disappearance of a hus band. A 17th-century couple who used to reside in Zacate cas moved to Querétaro to 8

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settle down. The couple had no children and only brought their most trusted servants to the mansion. -

Due to the multiple business trips of the husband, the wife (known as La Zacatecana) would often spend time alone in the mansion. Because of her growing loneliness, she began to have an affair with one of the servants. Upon the return of her husband, she ordered her lover to kill him. Hiding the body of the now-deceased husband, La Zacatecana and her lover lived out their days peace fully until rumors about her missing husband from fellow citizens began to spread. Be coming aware of the rumors, the widowed wife killed her lover and hid his body away with her dead husbands’. In the end, she was found stabbed and dead in her man sion with no one having any clue as to how that came to be. If you’re looking to spend your Halloween evening in a historical mansion set in the 17th century, with an un solved mystery, you can visit the Casa de la Zacatecana in Santiago which is 35 minutes -

Credits: Google Images

“Becoming aware of the rumors, the widowed wife killed her lover and hid his body away with her dead husbands’.”

Credits: Google Images

away from the university. This last Querétaro haunting has a very tragic and disturbing background to it. About 35 minutes away from ASUQC, the subject of the haunting is a house on the street of Hacienda Vegil of the neighborhood Jardines de la Hacienda. The mother, Claudia Mijangos, and her three kids (Alfredo, Claudia Maria, Ana Belen) used to live in the house. Claudia and her ex-husband, Alfredo Castanos, had a difficult marriage and split after Claudia began to have psychological attacks and delusions. These attacks made life difficult for Claudia but hadn’t affected the safety of her children before. One early morning in the year 1989, at around four, Claudia had another attack with loud voices in her head telling her that her hometown Mazatlán was gone and that everyone in Querétaro was a spirit. She called her friend Veroni s s u e 0 0 1

ica who tried helping her calm down. After Veronica promised to go later in the morning to help her, Claudia ended the call and took three knives with her as she made her way to her son Alfredo’s room. At about five in the morning, she attacked her son and killed him. His screams of pain before his death awoke his eldest sister, Claudia Maria. She was soon stabbed by her mother and tried to escape but ended up fainting in the dining room. While Claudia Maria was running away and pleading mercy, her now deranged mother had struck the youngest, Ana Belen, in the heart. Claudia Mijangos went to the dining room and found an unconscious Claudia Maria bleeding out on the floor. She stabbed her again and took her deceased body to the master bedroom. The multiple screams alerted the neighbors and Claudia Maria was soon arrested and charged with murder. The horrific killings instantly made the house one of the most haunted places in Querétaro. The claims of demonic possession by Claudia Maria only further intensify the chillness and sinister aura of the house. Many neighbors claim to still hear the screams of the children during the morning hours they were killed. Others say that they have been witnesses to a bleeding boy or girl appearing through the windows of the house. If your cup of tea is a horror house with a taste of tragic murder, then the house of Claudia Maria will not fail to deliver exactly that. But please do not forget to pay respects to the lost lives of innocent children during this upcoming Día de Los Muertos. Now that you are aware of some of the Querétaro hauntings, you can choose which places to visit during your Halloween night. Luckily, the locations are not too far away from each other and if you are really up for it, you can visit all three places in one day. Or night if you want to challenge yourself to a fully stocked, spine-tingling experience. But no matter which place you decide to go, always remembers to stay safe and avoid any serious trouble or danger. Wouldn’t want to bring in an extra guest on campus now, would we?

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“The claims of demonic possession by Claudia Maria only further intensify the chillness and sinister aura of the house.”

sinister sinister sinister sinister sinister sinister sinister sinister sinister

aura aura aura aura aura aura aura aura aura

do you believe in ghosts?

GHOSTS ON CAMPUS By Chloe Sofia Zavala Rymer

Myth or legend? t is thought that as the spooky holidays approach, the veil between our world and the spiritual one thins. Here in ASUCQ, we have many of these spirits roaming around our campus; some are harmless, but some you should avoid. Whether you believe in this or not, keep read ing and get prepared, because this information could save you from an unwanted, supernatural experience.

If you live on campus, the odds are you’ve already run into these spirits or felt their presence before, wheth er it be around the football fields or on your walks to Red Tank at night. For those living in Scarlet resi dencies, you’ll be interested to know we have playful spirits lurking around the hallways too. These are a 12

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few of the spots we will mention further on, but there are plenty more to read. Let’s begin with the most intense spirit of all. The ghost who interacts with us the most is a trapped spirit at the unfinished library. Al though the origins of this spirit are unknown, many say that you can see it looking at you if you stare in that direction too long. Rumor also has it that you can see its reflection on the windows from the cafeteria at night. It is said to be a tall, dark, shadowy figure with long heavy hair who follows lone students at night. One student shares that one night on his way to Red Tank, he could hear heavy footsteps on the other side of the fence following him. Even though he had just passed the unfin ished library and was still in a lit-up area (the wolf), he got an uneasy feeling. With him being alone, he decided not to turn around to investigate and kept walking. The sound of footsteps continued. Finally, he stopped, and the footsteps grew closer until he felt the spir it right behind him. With his phone’s flashlight ready, he turned around, but the library spirit had left. The second most present ghost is located in the men’s gym lockers. The gym spirit, as opposed to the rest, is thought to be a de mon because of the negative environment it creates. The demon plays with people’s anger and perception. Many say that if you walk in angry, it intensifies that anger, making you feel heavy and with displeasure. One student tells the story of when he walked in there with a group of friends. Even though they were standing close to him, he began to hear their voices far away as he started to feel an un pleasant energy. After this, the student felt irritable and began to answer rudely to his friends. He noticed this had been a very sud den change in his emotions and left the dress ing room to get some fresh air. Later he apol ogized to his friends for how he had treated them. Most will warn you not to spend much time there, because as seen in this story, this demon does not have good intentions. Lastly, there are the Scarlet Hall ghosts. Al though these ghosts are not harmful and they rarely interact with us, many have witnessed and confirmed their presence. A few years ago, some residents played the Ouija board and didn’t close the session correctly; because of this, they let out a spirit in the residence. She is described as a middle-aged woman

who likes to gossip and lives in the first floor’s hallway (left side if you look at Scarlet from the cafeteria). On the third floor, also in the left hallway, there’s a girl’s spirit who likes to play with the residents. While we are uncertain of how she got here, we are convinced that she has stayed. She knocks on doors, runs around, and does other mischievous acts. We believe she is active only for certain periods of time. A year ago, many residents reported these kinds of occurrences happening often. One third-floor resident shares her story with us. She says it started with knocking on the doors. The first instance she can recall, began when her roommate had just left to fill up their water bottles. Not too long after, there was a knock at the door, “that was quick,” she thought to herself; however, when she opened the door, there was no one there. This proceeded to happen three more times during that week. Then, she and her roommate began to notice how cabinet and closet doors would be open when they came back from eating. Of course, the two roommates thought something odd was going on, nonetheless, they never had any harmful things happen nor any missing objects. For this reason, they decided that it wasn’t anything to be worried about even if there was a spirit playing with them. The occurrences happened only during a span of two weeks. Some think these are just baseless ghost stories, while others will assure you that they feel ominous energies at different spots on campus. Where do you stand in this controversy? Have you felt any strange presence in the mentioned areas? Ask around or talk to your friends about this, it could be more common than what you imagined. Regardless of what you think, now that you know about the haunted places on campus, make sure to stay alert this Halloween for any bizarre circumstances. Who knows, you could be the next character in someone else’s ghost story.

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the gurdon light

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The Story of the Capps Sisters By Gabriella Gonzales THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Trudging down the wooded, moonlit railroad tracks off of U.S. Highway 53, the sound of leaves crunching beneath their feet, two sisters held their flashlights and pushed through the dark. Suddenly, fear struck. In a tunnel of darkness created by pine trees and think overgrowth bordering the tracks, the Capps sisters leaped into each other’s arms and lost all words. Cool air brushed their now pale and frightened faces. Flight or flight reflexes took control, and neither girl moved a muscle, but chit-chat wasn’t needed. It was mutually understood, they had reached their destination. Claire, 13, and Emily, 16, saw The Gurdon Light. The Gurdon Light is a phenomenon local to the town of Gurdon, Arkansas. From two primary legends involving railmen, a few possible theories, and thousands of personal accounts, the chatter surrounding this glowing ball of light is endless.

SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT, FOR HALLOWEEN NIGHT “It was such a thrilling walk down the tracks. Emily and I were excited to be doing this on our own, and that was enough to choke down the fear and keep moving,” Claire Capps said. For the Capps sisters, the light created a night neither of them

will ever forget. Moments before being frozen in fear, the girls maneuvered their way across multiple decaying trestle bridges down the railroad tracks. No longer scared by the long-told stories, they were on a mission. Halloween night 2015 would be a night to talk about forever. The Gurdon Light would appear, or the girls would no longer be fooled and bust the myth themselves. Countless curious people who couldn’t shake the itch and had to see it to believe it has wandered into town from all over and now, believe. Natives of Gurdon, Arkansas have their own versions of the story, but one thing is agreed on unanimously, a colorful glowing ball has been seen on the railroad tracks off of U.S. Highway 53.

SMALL TOWN AMERICA: HOME TO RAILROADS, TIMBER & THV 11 With a population of 2,571 people, this mysterious glow put the tiny town in Clark County, Ark., on the map. The subject of folklore that has been featured on THV 11, an Arkansas News station, Unsolved Mysteries, a national TV show, and PBS Arkansas. In addition to publicity on the screen, the light has been featured in books and podcasts. Every year, on the last Saturday in October, the small town shuts down for the Gurdon Forest Festival. A family-friendly event meant to celebrate the town and remember its roots. As a i s s u e 0 0 1

fundraiser, the chamber of commerce sells shirts representing the town. The designs have varied throughout the years, but one thing remains constant, they all include a nod to the Gurdon Light. The day’s events include a parade, concerts, costume contests, the Eric Griffin Memorial Run, a car show, vendors and carnival rides. To conclude the day, many go search for the light.

THE LEGEND OF OLD MAN MCCAIN Residents of Gurdon Ark., since birth, sisters Claire and Emily grew up hearing legends of the light. It was always the first spooky campfire story told or legend shared when anyone asked about haunted history. Their favorite tale is about a railroad foreman named William McCain. In 1931, as a Missouri-Pacific railroad foreman, McCain, confronted a man named Louie McBride for loosening train tracks. If McCain’s assumptions were true, his actions caused a cargo train to derail. Furious with McBride’s reckless behavior, McCain fired him. Not long after, it is stated in the book, Haunted in Arkansas by Marie Tayse, “Louis claimed he became angry at Will, so he chased him down and beat him to death with a spike maul.” Worried after McCain failed to return home after work, his wife reported him missing. Shortly after, Mcbride confessed to the murder and was sentenced to death by electrocution. The Southern Standard, a newspaper in the region, published an article in 1932 saying McBride confessed to killing McCain because he accused him of being responsible for a train derailing. The first sightings of the light were reported around this time. Legend has it that McCain roams the tracks with the lantern he carried to work in hand, creating the mysterious glow. This is the most widely agreed-upon legend by locals. In downtown Gurdon, there is a mural of old man McCain holding his lantern while walking along the tracks.

SAME RAILROAD, DIFFERENT RAILMAN The next legend is centered around the railroad, but about a different railman. Legend has it, a railman was working late when he slipped and hit his head. Lying unconscious across the tracks, he was decapitated by an oncoming train. He now roams the tracks with his lantern, searching for his head. There is no historical account to back up this story, but it is no secret how poorly railroad labor was treated in the early 20th century. Considering the possibility of workers being kept from before the sun came up to long after dark, resulting in worn-out men, makes this tale not as farfetched as it may seem.

“Relying on cheap flashlights for sight and knowing we were all alone in the woods was creepy enough… then we actually saw the glow and froze,” Claire Capps recalled from her experience on the tracks. Claire and Emily don’t recall seeing an outline of a man when the light appeared, but both are certain they saw a bright white-blue and orange light floating about 5-feet above the tracks.

SCIENCE OVER SPOOKS To this day, no one is certain what the glow is. A very plausible theory to debunk the mystery is the piezoelectric effect. Quartz crystals below Gurdon, when under stress, are thought to produce the glow above ground. The New Madrid fault line runs through the area buried beneath 100- to 200foot thick layers of soft river sediments called alluvium. According to Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the fault line, also known as the New Madrid seismic zone, is a series of faults, or fractures, at a weak spot in the earth’s crust, called the Reelfoot Rift. The weak spot creates pressurized quartz, and when the minerals collide, they develop a charge. This charge produces a spark that potentially can be seen above ground. While not as spooky as the legends told, if this theory is true, The Gurdon Light is a spark from the collision of pressurized quartz.

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WHATEVER, IT’S JUST HEADLIGHTS Skeptics have claimed that the glow is just car headlights from Interstate 30. The interstate is 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the sightings, with a hill and thick timber in between. Research done by Henderson State University students shows that headlights from I-30 would have to refract up and over the steep slope. Additionally, when listening for vehicles, the sounds never line up with the time headlights should be seen. To further debunk this theory, the legend has been around 26 years longer than the interstate. To see the light, one has to trek through the woods along the railroad tracks. It has never been seen from the highway that the tracks cross. “I’ve been to countless haunted houses and seen many scary movies, but to this day, no experience has topped that Halloween night,” Claire Capps said. No matter the reason for the mysterious hovering light, the Capps sisters stand by what they saw on Oct. 31, 2015. Halloween will always be a time for them to get together and reflect on the events of the night. From feeling so grown walking along the tracks by themselves to the sheer fear and shock that engulfed them once seeing the light, it truly is a night they will never forget. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH COURAGE TO SEEK THE LIGHT? The Gurdon Light remains a phenomenon that locals of Gurdon hold close. Though there are two primary legends, a few possible theories, and thousands of personal accounts, the Gurdon Light ultimately remains a mystery. That doesn’t keep natives from sharing stories of their own. Visiting the small town and asking a local will undoubtedly spark a friendly and most likely, lengthy conversation. Be sure to go on the last Saturday in October and experience the Gurdon Forest Festival. Don’t forget to check out the mural of old man McCain, either. Locals take pride in their community and love sharing their own personal accounts and experiences. Most of all, they love the spotlight the mystery has brought to their small town and seeing newcomers make the trek to see the light. The question is… do you have enough courage to seek the light?

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Six Movies You Must Watch During Halloween Season at the Dorms

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By Karyme Gómez

he spooky season is here, and films have always been a crucial part of Hallow een. Since we are kids, watching scary movies during the Halloween season has been like a tradition for most of us. You gather with your friends; you buy snacks, dress in comfy clothes, accommodate your dorm, turn your tv or computer on, put your projector, or perhaps use the tv in the lobby. Then the big question arises... Which movie are we go ing to watch? This is the essential question of the night, and most of the time, we spend a long time choosing a movie. But, don’t worry, here we have six movies that are a must during the Hallow een season, so you don’t waste time choosing.

THE SHINNING

“Here’s Johnny!” You have probably heard this iconic line. Well, If you are looking for a classic of classics, this is your movie. It is about a father who is the caretaker of an isolated hotel and takes his family with him during the winter. But, a sinister presence influences the father to do violent acts. Also, to add a little extra drama and horror, the father’s son has psychic powers 2. BEETLEJUICE If you are a Tim Burton fan, this movie is for you. This is not your typical scary movie; Beetlejuice is dark but funny. The film is about a deceased couple who does not know how to be good ghosts. So this couple decides to hunt their new homeowners by hiring an obnoxious and noisy spirit called Beetlejuice.

Credits: Google Images

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Credits: Google Images

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HOCUS POCUS

Do you want to remember your childhood? Well, this Disney movie is the perfect one. Hocus Pocus is a Halloween Disney Classic that tells the story of three Salem witches sisters who come back from the dead and have an evil plan, but a couple of teenagers and a cat come to the rescue. This family-friendly comedy is for everyone. 4.

GET OUT

If you are not a big fan of horror movies, don’t worry; we got you. Get out is a thriller that will keep you in suspense. It is about a black photographer who is visiting his white girlfriend’s family for the first time. As expected, he encounters some racism, but things get really weird and kind of creepy later on. It has an excellent plot twist.

5. HALLOWEEN You cannot pass Halloween season without actually watching these movies. Halloween is all about innocent people and a killer Michael Myers who is crazy and bloodthirsty. There are 13 movies in total. We know it is a lot, but you can do a movie marathon, right? 6.

ROSEMARY’S BABY

Rosemary’s Baby is your movie if you are looking for a film that keeps you up all night. To make matters more unfortunate, the plot has basis in real life. There was also a very tragic and dark actual murder to the director’s wife that has various similarities to the movie. The film is about a young pregnant woman who suspects her neighbors are part of a satanic cult who want to do horrible things with her baby.

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THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING ADS By Santiago Minutti

s Halloween and Day of The Death approach, the wicked minds get ready to assault the night. Unfortunately, the past two years of lock down made it necessary to change some of our most beloved traditions to make them safe to continue or adapt to the current Covid-19 pan demic. In times of despair, advertisers brought one last portion of the light to make this wicked season shine among the fog. For that reason, let us check on some of the most crea tive advertising campaigns of Halloween 2020 that saved the season.

could place your door in a real-life map and allow you to locate users willing to give or get candies. Miss ing picking up customs? No problem! The app also allowed its users to dress up their entire family as a witch, a vampire, and many other options.

MARS WRIGLEY VIRTU AL “TREAT TOWN” Mars Wrigley virtual “Treat Town.” Mars Wrigley, manufacturer for Skittles, Twix, Snickers, and more, created an app called “Treat Town” that brought trick or treating to the houses of the American population. According to Berelowitz, in the app, you could customize your door with different styles available. After that, you 22

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However, was this just a mobile game? Not exact ly! Aside from letting you connect with other trick or treaters; it also lets you buy candy tickets with real money and give them to the kids that would virtu ally knock on your door. After collecting these can dies, they could eventually be exchanged for some participating products of the Mars Wrigley company online or through author ized retailers. As part of the application’s immer sive activities, you could visit digital attractions for a unique experience. Ac cording to Burnett, some of these popular scenarios included Disney’s Haunt ed Mansion and M&M’s World in Times Square. Each place offered new additions to your account for those who dare to enter these virtual zones. Treat Town was a crea tive tool that allowed the

Credits: Google Images

festivities to continue by providing a safe way to trick or treat without direct contact with oth ers. As much as this might not give a similar expe rience like we are used to, this was an innovative approach to contrast the isolation measures caused by the pandemic.

NETFLIX “STRANGER THINGS” DRIVE INTO EXPERIENCE Are you a fan of Stranger Things? Then do not let the Demogorgon get you and run to the Hawkins Laboratory to discover an interactive experience with some of your favorite characters of the series. Stranger Things: The Ex perience in New York. Cre ates a new story inspired by the beloved show that provided an immersive performance in the safety of your cars. The Paul’s Theme Park Adventures was not just a drive-in per formance with actors play ing in the scenario, but -

“bold decisions in exchange for fruitful results.” Credits: Google Images

BURGER KING’S SCARIEST PLACES ON EARTH

rather a work of art in which performers would be passing by right next to your window. The participants get to visit some of the most memorable places of the science fiction show. Great work in the en vironment provided a wicked experience that gave a chilling vibe. Imagine driving through the Mirkwood road that would eventually lead you to the Hawkins National Laboratory. Once again, a big company like Netflix sought alternatives to allow their users to feel the breeze of the spooky season in their bones by being part of one of their most successful shows. Stranger Things Drive Into experience was an adven ture of a lifetime for those 13

Credits: Google Images

If you are interested in a scavenger hunt, Burger King offers you the ultimate challenge by going to abandoned rival locations. The fast-food campaign encouraged customers to go to abandoned McDonalds, Wendy’s, and many other fast food restaurant chains and get a free hamburger. -

All the abandoned places got announced on their social media platforms and local newspapers. After locating the hidden place, you would only have to drive near the location with the app of Burger King opened. This app uses geolocation technology that registers when they approach one and automatically creates a coupon.

This campaign exemplifies how brands can find a different approach and develop strategies to get their customers involved in the season. Moreover, this strategy promoted creativity skills and enhanced technology used in more than one way. Finally, they successfully tackled their biggest competitors by showing the dark side of some of their abandoned locations— bold decisions in exchange for fruitful results. All the previous companies show how the creativity of the team only limits advertising campaigns.

They provided a unique experience during Halloween in the middle of the pandemic and showcased innovative concepts that kept the American population safe. Even if the lockdown and social distancing measures limited many events during 2020, brands found opportunities in the middle of the eye of the hurricane. It is almost the end of the wicked season of 2021. The advertising campaigns are rising from their graves to save the season one more time. Be ready; they are coming for us.

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parting ways By Maximiliano Guzmán Vargas

These last couple of years have taken away so much

CREATIVITY

That it almost feels like we have lost our human touch Among uncelebrated celebrations We tried to find little bits of joy But the uncalled-for deaths of our people became too hard to bear I wish that we would have more time to prepare To say one last goodbye before they disappeared The day of the death is drawing ever near And it’s our time to say HEY once again And let go of the pain We should work hard to honor their souls And live lives worth being told Because even though Covid has taken its toll We stand tall to honor these poor souls

EL CERRO

house

By Dr. María Montserrat Juárez Aubry It is in the smell. The air carries the certainty of plants feeding from the sun. Not large trees, nor fresh forests, but the shy scent of grasses and scrubs taking a second chance on life after the rain. You can smell the mud and the puddles and their tiny layer of green. Because it does smell green and aquamarine and brown, with the faintest but unmistaken scent of cattle. It is in the way my father approaches a horse, confidently, with a secret complicity, never having ridden one. In the way the dogs surround him and guide him through the night. It is in the way my nephew stares at woodlice with fascination - not the faintest trace of disgust – and calls the rocks “the dead”. It is in the stars and the planets and the moon and every single bright light in the sky that can only be seen while engulfed in the purest darkness. It is in the sound of crickets and frogs and flapping wings. It is in the way we walk, without a clear path, looking out for snakes, guided by the promise of a water body. It is there, - in our confident steps that my grandfather hides and lives and visits us. He doesn’t touch us with boney fingers, long gone and thinned away by cancer, but with cool wind that makes our hats fly from our heads and loses our kites into the sky . . in the autumn days where he is allowed to walk with the living.

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There was once a pharaoh who was buried

could want or need after death (even pets!).

with an army made of gold. His tomb told the

I have heard stories of powerful fathers who

tale of fear. An entire life spent preparing for

killed their sons and wives to be reunited for

death. The ancient Egyptians believed that the

eternity. Fear drove the Egyptians to believe

afterlife resembled a continuation of earthly

in a kind of immortality. I would argue fear

life. Death was not a final state but rather a

is the largest motivation of man when it

transitional stage. The spirit was believed to

comes to remaining hopeful. The alternative

continue to exist after death in a world similar

is unthinkable. Humanity is terrified of the

to this one. The journey to the afterlife was

unknown, and as we well know, there is no

dangerous. The dead were put through tests

bigger unknown than death.

before facing judgement before Osiris, God

I cannot attest to whether the Egyptians were

of the dead. In the final judgment, the deceased’s heart was weighed against fear of truth. If the scale balanced, one

The Pharaoh’s Golden Army

was able to enter

By Gia Poh

the world of plenty

on the right track or not. However, judgement seems to be a prominent theme in theories regarding death. Many other religions believe that we will

(an improved version of our own world). If

be judged before a God and forced to face

the heart was too heavy, Ammit, a crocodile

our wrong doings. This is then when our fate

headed monster would devour the diseased

is decided, and it is either good or bad. In

and their afterlife would end in shame.

the worst cases, a kind of in-between. This

So, if sin and fear of truth were the true perils

is one of the reasons we continue to live,

of the underworld, why did the Pharaoh need

to be deserving of the ultimate heavenly

a golden army? My guess is that he assumed

destination. Earthly existence is tedious and

he would pass. Therefore, he would need

confusing, but I believe it is all we have. What

to continue to live as a wealthy king in the

if the Egyptians were wrong? What if the

next world. The same went for commoners,

golden army is of no use to the Pharaoh?

they were buried with any possessions they EL CERRO 26

What if the great immortality they chased is really the present in itself? Maybe the present is where eternity lies because it is all that is guaranteed.

Hope is a good thing to have, it is essential for our survival, but we mustn’t overlook life. There is joy to be had, people to meet and people to remember. Loss can blind us from appreciating what death is really meant for. Life is precious because it ends. The reason we love, create, fight and hope is because nothing is promised. There is no need to be buried with a golden army or a beloved pet, I think one should be buried with the knowledge that no matter what afterlife presents itself, not even death can erase the life lived. It is up to us to learn to appreciate life more than we fear death.

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“No Para siempre en la tierra... sólo un poco aquí”

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