The Festival of Calabiuza is a Salvadoran tradition observed in Tonacatepeque, San Salvador every November 1, the day before All Souls’ Day.
There is no exact recorded date when this tradition began, but residents recall that observance halted during the civil war (1980-1992) before regaining steam in the 1990s, in relation to the U.S. tradition of Halloween. Youth from the community dress as figures from Salvadoran mythology such as Cipitio, Siguanaba, or the Headless Priest.
This year, the festival was held on November 4 due to the rains from Tropical Storm pilar. Salvadoran and international tourists watched as locals pulled bewitched carts called carretas chillonas along the main streets of the municipality as those in costumes yelled, “We are angels, and we come from the sky to ask for ayote [squash] all along our path.”
