A Season of Memories

Halloween and the Day of the Dead at BeeHive Homes

As autumn sweeps through New Mexico, the air turns crisp, pumpkins appear on porches, and laughter echoes through the halls of BeeHive Homes. Halloween and the Day of the Dead are more than just dates on a calendar here — they’re celebrations of connection, memory, and joy.

At BeeHive Homes, we believe home is where memories are made. Whether it’s the scent of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen as residents decorate pumpkin cookies, or the laughter that fills the air during a costume parade, these moments remind us why every season is special when shared together.

Halloween Fun and Family Spirit

For many of our residents, Halloween brings back a flood of memories — helping children into their costumes, hosting neighborhood parties, or greeting trick-or-treaters at the door. In our homes, those traditions live on in new ways.

Residents enjoy themed crafts like painting pumpkins, making festive wreaths, and sharing spooky stories that mix nostalgia with laughter. Staff join in the fun, too — sometimes donning costumes that spark joy and connection. It’s more than just a day of treats; it’s a celebration of the creativity and humor that thrive no matter our age.

Each activity — from baking autumn desserts to listening to old-time tunes — helps our residents relive cherished memories while creating new ones surrounded by friends who feel like family.

Trick or Treat at the BeeHive Homes of New Mexico

Honoring Heritage: Día de los Muertos

In New Mexico, the Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos — holds deep cultural and emotional meaning. It’s a time to remember loved ones who have passed, to honor their lives, and to celebrate the ongoing presence they hold in our hearts.

At BeeHive Homes, we embrace this beautiful tradition with reverence and joy. Some homes create colorful ofrendas — small altars adorned with flowers, photos, and mementos — while others host reflection moments, storytelling sessions, or cultural crafts inspired by this Mexican heritage. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t fade with time; it simply changes form.

For many of our residents, these traditions are more than cultural — they’re personal. The stories shared, the candles lit, and the names spoken aloud become threads that connect generations, turning remembrance into a living celebration.

Rooted in Core Values

Both Halloween and the Day of the Dead remind us of what makes BeeHive Homes so special. Our core values — family, dignity, compassion, and joy — come to life through these celebrations. Every pumpkin carved, every song sung, every memory shared echoes our belief that home is not just a place, but a feeling.

We strive to create that feeling every day — through personalized care, warm companionship, and traditions that bring meaning to every season. Whether we’re celebrating with laughter or reflection, the heart of BeeHive Homes remains the same: to provide a homelike environment where residents feel loved, valued, and connected.

Because here at BeeHive Homes, every moment — from silly costume contests to quiet candlelit reflections — is a part of life’s larger celebration.

A Time to Remember and Rejoice

This Halloween season, as our residents share stories, decorate cupcakes, and honor loved ones past, we’re reminded that joy and remembrance walk hand in hand. The laughter that fills our halls, the care that guides our hands, and the traditions that shape our days all come from the same place — home.

At BeeHive Homes, home is where memories are made, and every season brings a new reason to celebrate the beauty of life, love, and family.

Keeping Tradition Alive: A Tale of the Haunted Pumpkin

Halloween has a rich history that traces back thousands of years, originating with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter—a time when Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. They held feasts, wore costumes to ward off spirits, and made sacrifices to honor deities and ancestors. As Christianity spread, Samhain merged with Christian observances, creating All Hallows' Eve (Halloween) as a precursor to All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2, days meant for remembering the deceased and saints.

European immigrants, particularly the Irish, brought Halloween traditions to America in the 19th century, where it grew in popularity, evolving into a secular celebration with costumes, parties, and the iconic trick-or-treating custom. Elements like jack-o’-lanterns come from Irish folklore about "Stingy Jack," who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth, a story that inspired carving pumpkins to scare away spirits​.

But here in the BeeHive... Every Halloween, a few days before the big night, the residents at BeeHive Homes gather for a tradition as old as time: the carving of pumpkins. For some, it’s a reminder of years gone by when little ones would dress up as ghosts and goblins, asking for treats. For others, it’s a fun, creative way to enjoy the season. But this Halloween, there was something just a little bit eerie about the pumpkins…

One cool October evening, the residents gathered around tables, each with a pumpkin in front of them, ready to carve. The air was thick with excitement and a hint of mystery. As stories were exchanged and the first cuts were made, one resident, Mr. Thompson, began sharing an old tale he’d heard as a child—a tale about “The Haunted Pumpkin.” The story told of a pumpkin carved many years ago, one that was said to return every Halloween, looking for a new face to wear.

“Careful with your design,” he whispered, a mischievous glint in his eye. “If you carve it just right, that haunted pumpkin might show up here!”

Laughter erupted, but the residents couldn’t help glancing at their pumpkins a bit more carefully. Despite the ghostly stories, a comforting warmth filled the room as friends, both old and new, carved together. The pumpkin faces went from spooky to silly as stories of old Halloweens mingled with jokes and laughter.

Halloween at BeeHive Homes is more than just a night of scares and fun; it’s a celebration of traditions that bring residents together, reminding everyone that even the scariest moments become joyful when shared with loved ones.

As the evening wound down, the carved pumpkins were lined up, each one flickering to life with a candle inside, casting friendly, glowing faces in the room. Perhaps one was the Haunted Pumpkin… or maybe it was just a friendly trick. Either way, the tradition was kept alive, bringing joy, community, and a few chills to all.

So, at BeeHive Homes, we cherish these moments that celebrate both the past and the present. Because here, even the spooky parts of life are made a little brighter—together. Happy Halloween!