Asda selling ‘culturally disrespectful’ Mexican Day of the Dead Halloween costumes
Critics have pointed out that Halloween and Day of the Dead are two entirely different events, and argue it is "cultural appropriation" to sell these outfits
ASDA has been accused of selling a Halloween costume which is culturally "disrespectful" to Mexicans.
The supermarket giant has created "Halloween Day of the Dead" costumes inspired by the Mexican festival of the dead.
This festival and Halloween are different events and some people have said it is "cultural appropriation" to sell the outfits.
The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos is a holiday to honour the dead, with decorated altars, flowers, candles, food and pictures in memory of their loved ones.
Critics have taken to Twitter to express their displeasure.
Donna (@ratdamage) tweeted: "Hey @asda, Dia de los Muertos isn't a Hallowe'en costume. Costumes like this are appropriative and disrespectful"
Christina Bradley (@cbradley1001) posted on Twitter: "@asda The sugar skull range/the advert with sugar skull makeup for Halloween is awks. Learn what they're about before you appropriate them?"
Berni Botto, from Gillingham, Kent, tweeted: "it makes me mad that Asda thinks Halloween and Dia de los Muertos is the same holiday"
And twitter user Rebecca (@rebfleming_), a camera operator, added: "the dia de los muertos masks aren't cool though"
The polyester female Day of the Dead costume is a red and black dress with a skeleton print design, mesh skirt, floral corsages and lace trims, loosely based on the traditional long floral Mexican dresses worn by women on Day of the Dead.
The men's version consists of a top hat attached to a mask, suit-style trousers, and a top and jacket with a skeleton design, as Mexican men often wear fine, smart clothing on Dia de los Muertos.
TV and film extra James Valentine, form Cardiff, Wales, criticised the phenomenon of dressing up using Day of the Dead inspiration altogether.
He posted on Facebook: "If you think sugar skull/Day of the Dead make up is appropriate and you are not Mexican, please kindly forget I existed.
"It is racist, and cultural appropriation. You cannot cherry pick things from other people's belief systems and culture just because you think it looks pretty."
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A spokesman for MexSoc UK, a society for Mexican students in the UK, said that the sale of the costumes displayed a "lack of cultural knowledge."
President Miguel Nunez said: "We strongly believe the 'Halloween Day of the Dead' costumes on sale at supermarkets across the UK evidence the lack of cultural knowledge of marketing campaigners.
"However we do not take offence - if we did then we should ask for a ban of the James Bond movie "Spectre" where the British secret agent is shown in the middle of a carnival procession. These kind of displays have never happened on Day of the Dead celebrations.
"The Day of the Dead is something much more conservative and traditional celebrated in Latin America, especially in Mexico, and it has a very intimate links with our predecessors, relatives and friends that have passed away.
"This tradition dates back to the pre-Hispanic cultures before 1520 AC, such as the Aztecs and Mayans which were civilizations based on war that strongly believed in an after-life.
"With the cultural conquest from the Catholic Church on hands of the Spanish Kings at the time, the celebrations were intended to be merged with Catholic celebrations.
"Celebrations across cemeteries are still a huge attraction, but rather than be a spooky ceremony, people decorates the tombs and put a display called 'Ofrenda' where they put objects, pictures and the favourite food and drinks of the relative who passed away."
A spokesperson for the British Mexican Society said ASDA should have differentiated between Halloween and Day of the Dead.
Chairman Richard Maudslay said: "This is very interesting because when I lived in Mexico in the late 1970's Halloween was starting to take off and the Mexicans said 'we don't want our culture taken over.'
"There has been a lot of work done in Mexico to get people to celebrate Day of the Dead.
"Whenever I visit Mexico now it is celebrated everywhere, and there are also a lot more people in the UK doing Day of the Dead ceremonies and alters.
"If ASDA want to sell stuff, they will sell stuff - but it would be nice if they could differentiate between the two things.
"One is quite a deep religious festival, and the other - well, who knows what Halloween is now?
"I don't think its a case of being disrespectful, but I think they should explain what Day of the Dead actually is.
"We are in a big wide world and we need to collaborate and get people thinking about other cultures."
He added: "Perhaps we should take the ASDA Chief Executive on a Mexican course."
In response to the criticisms, an ASDA spokeswoman said: "We know that our customers love Halloween and are looking to get a bit more creative with their scare wear this year.
"We've created a range of costumes that is inspired by current trends and makes sure everyone has a great selection to choose from and enjoy Halloween in their own way.
"We've had some great feedback from our customers and it is never our intention to cause offence."
Amazon got into hot water recently after "sexy burka" costumes were for sale on its site.
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