Holly Jolly Christmas!

Christmas is in full swing here in Colombia! I barely need the live stream of Warm 101.3 online because of all the Christmas that currently exists around me! That being said, it is quite different. Truth be told, I wouldn't be able to live without the Christmas music I know and love. The music on the radios here is different than what I'm used to - it's mostly to party and dance. Therefore I am thankful for the internet (including Grooveshark!) 

Christmas here focuses on the coming of Jesus. This has to do with the fact that the majority of the population is Catholic. Looking around, you will see many nativity scenes represented in lights and other decorations. In fact, children believe that is it El Niño Jesús who brings them the presents. Their big day is the 24th. Our commercialized culture has infiltrated these steadfast traditions, though, and now many families put up Christmas trees (the trees usually have a theme, and they don't have special ornaments like we do in the U.S.). Walking into the mall or any store, you will see images of Papá Noel, snowmen, Christmas trees, penguins, and snow (it doesn't snow here). Isn't it interesting how much influence our culture has on other cultures? I can't tell if it's a good thing.

 Nevertheless, Christmas is here! Here's how I've been getting ready for it:

1. Using my vast resources to create elaborate and aesthetically pleasing Christmas decorations.

Manger scene cookies!

We three kings of Christmas cookies.

 2. Buying animal cracker-tasting cookies that are shaped like Jesus and company and eating the entire box in two days. Whoops! Is it sacrilegious to eat Jesus?

Mmmmmm

3. Finally successfully making cookies - I am an expert now and this is the last time I will post about them! This day was particularly fun because I taught Gloria and Sara how to make the cookies, going as far as to translate the recipe into Spanish! A nice translation exercise. Shown here are coconut chocolate chip. Yum! Clearly the lack of cookie sheets does not affect the taste!

Sara caught me red-handed (or red-bowled).

4....aaaaand stealing tastes of the dough.

The termales are okay, I guess.

JK THEY WERE AWESOME

 5. Going to the termales with my Mexican friend Celeste, which was a really nice way to say goodbye! She left on Monday. I hope to visit her in Mexico someday for Day of the Dead, and I hope she comes to visit me in the U.S.

La cascada by night

A beautiful flower at the termales!

One of the pools

Copos de nieve.

6. Making paper snowflakes! The right way, for once. ¡Quedaron bonitos!

Novena included!

7. Going to my first Novena! A Novena is a series of prayers that are said starting December 16th, nine days before Christmas. This is a Colombian tradition! They have a reflection that is read each day, along with the Our Father, Haily Mary, and Glory Be, and lots of upbeat singing and hand-clapping! One of my adult students from my conversation club is a professor in the science department, and they are doing a Novena this week. She invited me on the day that her office hosted it, and it was great! It was kind of funny because they said the prayers at top speed. They told me it was because they had to get back to work. We'll see on the 16th how it really is! Oh, by the way, the prayers and reflections come in cookie boxes that you can buy at the store. That was the biggest reason why I bought the Jesus cookies.

A very detailed pesebre! They told me that pesebres often include scenes from current everyday life, such as coffee pickers.

They INSISTED that I get a picture with the pesebre and the Christmas tree, which, by the way, is a coffee plant that they decorated and were extremely proud of. Fitting, as I am in the coffee region!

8. Looking at many pesebres! There are many that are very detailed and beautiful, and others that are simple and just as beautiful. For instance, there are huge lit-up structures in the shape of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus on the middle of a roundabout in the city. It's so cool to see the spirituality present in all these celebrations!

This tree is made from recycled soda bottles!

José, María, y Jesús in lights.

Greatly enjoying this broccoli tree.

Love how this decoration is reminiscent of one we have at home!

Awesome star lights!!!

Outdoor Christmas bush!

9. Enjoying the multitude of lights that they have put up in my apartment complex! It's great! It's a Christmas wonderland, if not a winter one (it was 80 degrees and sunny today).

A guatín.

10. Catching a glimpse of many of these babies - guatines. What is it? I have no idea! I know that it is a rodent of some sort, but it is the size of a cat. Apparently they have no predators and reproduce a lot, so there has been an influx here in Armenia. It has the face of a squirrel.

Tomorrow, December, 7th, and 8th, is a festival which they call the alumbrado. This is a festival for which  they make luminaries and put them in the street with candles inside. They also celebrate with Christmas lights galore! I will be going to a park where they have a bunch of lights, and then hopefully to a small town to see the luminaries! 

Lights in Medellín - they say they're the best!

Luminaries!

11. Looking forward to going home and seeing my family, friends, and Graham!

12. And, of course, Christmas shopping. El Niño Jesús can't bring all the presents!

Thanks for being here with me! Have a pleasant evening.

El Niño Jesús = Baby Jesus

Papá Noel = (Santa Claus) Father Christmas

termales = hot springs

cascada = waterfall (cascade, people!)

¡Quedaron bonitos! = they came out pretty!

pesebre = Nativity scene