CARLOS LABRAA‘A

This play is about the night of Samaín, an event of Celtic origin that is celebrated on October 31 in the town of Cedeira (La Coruña). This event, which European immigrants went on to celebrate in North America, would eventually be transformed into the holiday of Halloween, as well as the Christian holiday of All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1.In the story, as part of the festivities, a group of children gathers pumpkins to make skulls used to scare away the ghosts, but they reject the smallest pumpkin. Feeling offended, the pumpkin complains to the corncobs about being so tiny and deformed. Finally, plucking up enough courage, it decides to seek out the children and go to the celebration, accompanied by several corncobs.Getting lost along the way, they ask the oak tree leaves for directions, but the leaves tell them to ask the wind. The wind advises them to continue until they reach the chestnut tree. When the chestnuts learn where the pumpkin and its friends are going, they decide to join in, hoping to eventually meet up with their fellow chestnuts.This splendid play accentuates the importance of human values such as friendship, companionship, inner beauty, and tenacity. The surprise ending fills the ugly and misshapen pumpkin with joy and satisfaction.