Christmas Traditions by Mia Lowry

*CHURCH---On Christmas Eve we went to church. There was usually a play and one of us (the kids) had a part in it. After church, we would go to the 'comedor/kitchen' of the church to eat some tamales, menudo or drink some Mexican hot chocolate. We would hang out there chatting with friends and when we finally made it home it was almost midnight.

*PRESENTS----We would open them after we got home from church. We enjoyed our time at church, but we always were chomping at the bit to get home. We couldn't wait to open our presents. We were never taught the story of Santa Claus in our home. What we learned of him was through television shows (Rankin/Bass see: http://www.rankinbass.com/) or our friends who were more knowledgeable of the story of Santa. I know as a child I wished we were taught the story of St. Nicholas (http://www.stnicholascenter.org/ This is one of the many websites about this man in history who did some good in the world.) and were taught about Santa. Mom said that in Mexico they received gifts from "El nino" on their porch inside of their shoes. Grandma Maria tried to do this tradition for her children, but Lucia or Mom poo-poo'd it and that was the end of this tradition for her family.

We always had at least 4 gifts under the tree. We knew we were getting clothes and one toy. It was exciting to see the gifts appear under the tree for us kids.

*TREES---When we lived in Yuma, I remember us putting up a fake tree. I always wanted a real one like my best friend had in her house, but we had to be practical with our money. In hindsight, I am glad they did this for us because I know we received more gifts as a result. Plus, I have this "wonderful" tree to tell about. Back in those days, fake Christmas trees were nothing like the ones they sell now. Back then we did not know any better, but looking back you can honestly say these trees were the ugliest trees you could ever find.

Charlie Brown's tree is sort of a good way to describe it, but at least his tree was real (www.imbd.com/title/tt00559026). Just like his tree there was a lots of needles missing. The branches were made of thick wire and the wire would be without needles for the first inch or two from the body of the tree, which was made of wire and had no needles on it. The needles were the WORST plastic imitation of a real tree. You could not say it at least had many branches on it because it did not. To shape the branches to make it look like a pine tree took the strength of a giant because the wires were not easily bent. However, when we decorated we were never more proud of our tree. I wish I could find a picture of it on-line, but luckily, I know Mom has one of it. I would like to scan it and put it in here.

I know the family had one of those white small trees before I was born and when I was a baby. It was a table topper. These are now considered 'retro Christmas trees.' It's a shame we did not keep it as it would be nice for Mom to have it now because I know these trees are low maintenance to put up.

When the family moved to Phoenix, then we stopped having a Christmas tree. Dad felt it was wrong to celebrate Christmas with a tree, and we did not have one anymore. However, I worked with a friend and she found out about this situation. She and her boyfriend came over with a REAL Christmas tree for us. So, we finally got a live Christmas tree. There is a picture of Jovanni as a toddler in front of it.


FOOD---
We ate tamales, menudo or posole (sp?) soup, bunwellos (sp?), which taste like funnel cakes, but thinner, rice and beans. We had the traditional Mexican hot chocolate. Mom made the best Christmas Mexican food you could ever taste. We always said she should have opened a restaurant.

CHRISTMAS DAY---
For our family Christmas Day was just a regular day when we lived in Yuma. I guess it could be like Dec. 26th for the rest of the world who opened gifts on Christmas morning. When I was little I wanted us to do Christmas like most Americans did on Christmas Day, but we always did it on Christmas Eve (probably because we did not want to wait another day to open our gifts).

As we grew older, this day has been modified. We would do Christmas presents for the Villanueva descendants on other days, like the 26th or the 28th. It would prolong our season, which I think is pretty great. Last year we spent the night at Tonie's opened gifts; then went home. It was the start of a great tradition. Hopefully, it continues as the family in Arizona grows. Maybe one day Abel's family and mine will get to come too.