Christmas Wishes

What makes it so difficult to be away from family, friends and home during such an important holiday like Christmas? Traditions. Traditions trigger stories, memories with family and friends, and once these traditions start to unfold, the general season is illuminated.

The traditions seen in Paraguay were much different, and there was little "Christmas season" to be seen, except during the few days before Christmas Eve, however, it was still a wonderful day spent with family and friends. Preparations are made for food, the "tatakua" (outdoor oven) is heated, little gifts are wrapped, "clerico" (wine, cider, and fruit salad) is mixed, and the outdoor eating area is decorated.

It was while we were hanging the outdoor lights that I said, "I just can't believe that it's Christmas! It's too hot!" They replied, "It seems like Christmas to us, because it is hot!"

True, we didn't have an advent service, caroling, Christmas trees, or a baking extravaganza. Christmas music was even difficult to find until the 24th of December. All of these things were going against every inclination that I had of Christmas, but nevertheless, Christmas passed the Paraguayan way, and our remembrance of little baby Jesus coming to earth was still the same.

(There was one minor change. For the first time, the household of Berta [our host mother] saw snow during the Christmas party. Wanting to help in some way, I remembered the 3rd grade art project that every child learns- how to make snowflakes. Thank you Mr. Fiely, I had snow on Christmas Eve and everyone enjoyed it, even saying, "How much time did it take to cut all of those little holes?".)

The food was baked in the tatakua, garlic chicken, pork, and sopa paraguaya, which is similar to a corn bread. There were four different types of cold salads which Berta's daughter brought. To drink Paraguayans wouldn't think of having just water for any halfway special occasion, so we had Coca-cola, Sprite, Fanta, clerico, and cider. The family and friends, 16 in total, started arrived at 9:30pm. Slow, steady eating, and good conversation was only interrupted during the midnight run of fireworks from the neighbors, as if to announce to all that in fact Christmas had arrived. (Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright...Paraguay got the clue with all is bright- the sky right? Once they set off the fireworks. But I think the other phrases of the song were lost in the Paraguayan postal system- it's horrible if you haven't heard already.)

The cake was cut once people concluded that they could not eat anymore, and coffee was served for everyone. It wasn't until around 2:30am that people returned to their homes, to continue their own tradition of sleeping through Christmas Day. Once the dishes were finished, we crawled into bed, only to wake up to a knock on the door from Berta saying that it's time for lunch. Berta confessed she had only just woken up also, and immediately after lunch, we all returned to bed. All in all, that was our Christmas day, nothing fancy, just a day to recover from the previous late night.

My first Paraguayan Christmas really was wonderful, and it was a treat to experience such an important holiday in another country. So I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas, with all the traditions that bring Christmas to life. Merry Christmas to everyone!!