As you may know, Christmas is celebrated a bit differently here in Chile. One of the main differences is the temperature since we are enjoying summertime and warm days that may reach 95 degrees or so. For many families, swimming – not sledding! – is a tradition around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Another difference is that Chileans typically celebrate on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Families will gather at one home in the evening for a huge “parrillada” (grilling out) and around midnight the children will open their gifts from the “Viejito Pascuero” (Santa Claus.) The celebration lasts late into the night, so Christmas morning is usually a very quiet one!
Whereas in the States nativity scenes are (sadly) the source of contention in public places, here in Chile they are very common. I have seen one or two billboards reminding everyone of the “reason for the season” and while the sentiment is appropriate the picture of a kneeling Barbie or space ranger somehow looks a little out of place! But it is our desire to remind our children throughout the month of the true meaning of Christmas, and to be a light to our neighbors and others with whom we rub shoulders at this time of year.
Last night, the children began decorating their tree and it seems like Eva is the most “aware” right now. She was happily exclaiming over decorating the tree for Jesus and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and making everything beautiful for Jesus. In the midst of it all, she dropped a couple of small ornaments and made me laugh out loud by shaking her head and saying, “I don’t know why God made me this way … this dropping things way!”
There is always a reason to smile! (:
1 comment:
Oh Steph, she is so young and yet she is truly growing in Christ. Tell her we miss her! Cute story.
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