El CHarro_NEgro....
19 Dec 2003, 02:23 PM
Yesterday was the first Posada. In town-like barrios like mine this events are really nice. Traditions for decades were all the neighborhood is involved. We offer free food for all the visitors, my family offered Tacos of Cochinita and an exotic spicy meat from Yucatan. Then we do the letania ceremony, commemorating the search of Maria and Joseph for the place where Jesus will be born. After that, "No quiero oro, ni quiero plata, yo lo que quiero es romper la piñata", the traditional pinata in form of a star with seventh edges, representing the seventh capital sins. Then, the dance and beer with family and friends. For every centenary church, every barrio, there is a Posada. Yesterday was Barrio del Niño Jesus turn, next is for Tres Cruzes Barrio, then San Francisco, and so on, until Christmas Eve.
The 24 of December is a day of praying and reflection. In the afternoon, all the family is gathered together. The turkey is injected with wine, we also prepare Bacalaho and the traditional Romeritos, prepared with potatoes, romero and mole. The dinner is at night, at 12:00 a.m. child Jesus is set on the Nacimiento, and then we open the gifts. On december 25 we leave the city to visit the family that lives outside.
28 of december is "Santos inocentes" day, the day when we remember the day of the slaughter of hundreds of kids ordered by Neron who was searching Jesus. We remember that day with jokes like April's fools day, even the Newspapers participate.
The most important day for my Barrio is 1 of January. The fair comes to town since 30 of december and we have 3 days of party. On January 1, after the christian ceremony for El niño Jesús is the biggest party of the year. All youngster gangs from deeper barrios come to vestibule of the Church for the traditional eggs war. Each side against the other, Weapons? Eggs filled with flour, confetti or real eggs are valid. At 8:00 pm the Bulls are released, like in Pamplona!, but they aren't real bulls. They are made of paper and covered with lots of pyrotechnic games. They chase every one that moves on the streets. How can we defend of a such scaring creature, that throws fire from his mouth and blast from his horns?, there's were the eggs become real handily :) Often i feel sorry for the brave guy that is inside. At 9:00 pm the castles are burned. The "Castles" are gigantic structures of about 50 feets high, made of steel and covered of pyrotechnic games. The Castle burns slowly displaying many effects, like rotating flowers. In the top of the "Castle" there is "Crown", that raises flight at the end of the castle displaying lights of colors until it get out of sight. The crown can come on different forms, last years was an helicopter. After that is time to sleep, drinking beer is a lack of respect for our lord Jesus Christ. On January 1 the family is gathered togherther again and at 12:00 pm we eat Pollo con Mole, and my favorite by far, we drink Consome de Pollo spiced with onions, lemon and Chile de Arbol.
We rest until January 5, thats day is Día de Reyes (Kings Day), where we commemorate the day when the three wise mens visited Jesus Christ with gifts. We eat the traditional Rosca de Reyes, a sweet cake with form similar to a donnut, with Athole de Chocolate... Delicious. Inside of La Rosca are placed small figures in form of a child. That day is special for kids, The Three Wise Men (Los thres reyes magos) come at night and leaves toys for them, ala Santa Claus. The ones who gets one child figure have to prepare Los Tamales for February 2, "El Día de la Candelaria", when we took our Child Jesús figure to get blessed. Every child is dressed like a true king. Colored small mulas (mules) of palma are traditional on that day.
And that's all.... Until "Semana Santa" :) .
The 24 of December is a day of praying and reflection. In the afternoon, all the family is gathered together. The turkey is injected with wine, we also prepare Bacalaho and the traditional Romeritos, prepared with potatoes, romero and mole. The dinner is at night, at 12:00 a.m. child Jesus is set on the Nacimiento, and then we open the gifts. On december 25 we leave the city to visit the family that lives outside.
28 of december is "Santos inocentes" day, the day when we remember the day of the slaughter of hundreds of kids ordered by Neron who was searching Jesus. We remember that day with jokes like April's fools day, even the Newspapers participate.
The most important day for my Barrio is 1 of January. The fair comes to town since 30 of december and we have 3 days of party. On January 1, after the christian ceremony for El niño Jesús is the biggest party of the year. All youngster gangs from deeper barrios come to vestibule of the Church for the traditional eggs war. Each side against the other, Weapons? Eggs filled with flour, confetti or real eggs are valid. At 8:00 pm the Bulls are released, like in Pamplona!, but they aren't real bulls. They are made of paper and covered with lots of pyrotechnic games. They chase every one that moves on the streets. How can we defend of a such scaring creature, that throws fire from his mouth and blast from his horns?, there's were the eggs become real handily :) Often i feel sorry for the brave guy that is inside. At 9:00 pm the castles are burned. The "Castles" are gigantic structures of about 50 feets high, made of steel and covered of pyrotechnic games. The Castle burns slowly displaying many effects, like rotating flowers. In the top of the "Castle" there is "Crown", that raises flight at the end of the castle displaying lights of colors until it get out of sight. The crown can come on different forms, last years was an helicopter. After that is time to sleep, drinking beer is a lack of respect for our lord Jesus Christ. On January 1 the family is gathered togherther again and at 12:00 pm we eat Pollo con Mole, and my favorite by far, we drink Consome de Pollo spiced with onions, lemon and Chile de Arbol.
We rest until January 5, thats day is Día de Reyes (Kings Day), where we commemorate the day when the three wise mens visited Jesus Christ with gifts. We eat the traditional Rosca de Reyes, a sweet cake with form similar to a donnut, with Athole de Chocolate... Delicious. Inside of La Rosca are placed small figures in form of a child. That day is special for kids, The Three Wise Men (Los thres reyes magos) come at night and leaves toys for them, ala Santa Claus. The ones who gets one child figure have to prepare Los Tamales for February 2, "El Día de la Candelaria", when we took our Child Jesús figure to get blessed. Every child is dressed like a true king. Colored small mulas (mules) of palma are traditional on that day.
And that's all.... Until "Semana Santa" :) .