Adham El Sherif, 20, (right) and his younger brother Tarek, 17, work on their pumpkins during a carving competition at their grandfathers house in Pacific Palisades on Sunday, October 28, 2007. Their Aunt Cynthia can be seen in the background carving her pumpkin during the competition.

A pumpkin tosses its seeds after an annual family  pumpkin carving contest on Sunday in the Pacific Palisades.

Children look at the altar during Edison Language Academy's  Fifth Annual Day of the Dead Exhibit on Saturday, October 27, 2007. Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. Día de los Muertos dates back 3000 years.

(top) Artist Nery Orellana, (right) who hails from Guatemala, shows off his Alfombras de Aserrin (sawdust carpet) during Edison Language Academy's  Fifth Annual Day of the Dead Festival on Saturday, October 27, 2007. The making of alfombras de aserrín with its vivid colors and eye-catching patterns are among the most prominent elements of the Holy Week celebrations of Guatemala. They are made from sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables and is a community-forming tradition. People get together by block to create the carpets on which a processions will pass by during the Holly Week. Sometimes the making of the carpets is done at night, all night so they are ready for next day’s procession.

The Hermanos Herrera perform during Edison Language Academy's  Fifth Annual Day of the Dead Festival on Saturday, October 27, 2007.