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The History of Cinco de Mayo and The Legend of La Llorona

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It’s May 5th everybody! You know what that means…it’s Cinco de Mayo, and just like St. Patrick’s Day, it’s a celebration of a culture, food, music and heritage. Let celebrate Mexican heritage by talking about one of their biggest and most widespread legends: La Llorona.

But first, let’s dig in a little on the holiday’s history first. Cinco de Mayo isn’t as widely celebrated in Mexico as it is here. Unlike what you might believe, it is not considered to be Mexico’s Independence Day which occurred 50 years before on September 16, 1810.

Cinco de Mayo

(Image credit: cafeconlecherepublicans.com)

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican defeat over the French on May 5th 1862 during the Battle of Puebla in the Franco-Mexican war. Suffice to say the holiday is more widely celebrated in Puebla, but is celebrated throughout the country. There are parades, festivals and battle recreations.

According to History.com, in the 60’s in America, Chicano activitists pursued the holiday in the states as a celebration of Mexican heritage and the holiday took off. So, celebrate today with more traditional Mexican food like homemade tamales, tacos al pastor and Mexican pastries and learn a little bit about a legendary woman call La Llorona.

The name La Llorona means “The Weeping Woman.” Like most legends, there are many different stories that explain her. The most common of which tells of beautiful Maria, who was married and had two children. As years pass, her husband grows cold and, upon finding out her husband has eyes for another woman, in a fit of rage and revenge she throws the children in the river, drowning them.

After seeing what she has done, she tries to save them. In some stories she drowns and in others she wastes away from grief. Other stories tell of her drowning her children to be with the man she loves and then killing herself when she is rejected.

Whatever the beginning may be, the outcome remains the same. At the heavenly gates, she is denied entry for being without her children and she is sent back to wander until she finds them. The story of La Llorona is used as a warning story to children to keep them from wandering out at night or disobeying their parents.

Cinco de Mayo

(Image credit: popcorntimeforandroid.com)

It’s said that if she even finds a child that looks like one of her children she lost, she will take them away to a watery grave. Stories like that exist all over the world and its similar to the Irish legends of bad faeries that take away children and replace them with their own.

She is sometimes seen wandering along the banks of the Santa Fe river in her white burial dress, wailing and crying out, “Where are my children?” However the story goes, the consequences are equally as devastating. Many movies, good and bad, have been spawned from the legend. One of the most popular being La Leyena de la Llorona.

Cinco de Mayo

(Image credit: remezcla.com)

Universal Studios Orlando even opened up a haunted house just for her.

Cinco de Mayo

(Image credit: youtube.com)

If one day you find yourself in Mexico near the bank of a river, keep an eye out for a white dress, perk up your ears for the cries, and watch yourself near the water. Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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