Christmas Revives Many Cultural Memories for Latinos
Raymond Rodriguez

The Christmas season is a time for Latinos to recall their unique culture and heritage. Each year more Latin American countries are adopting the U.S. style of observing Christmas. Santa, Christmas trees and exchange of gifts are making serious inroads into the traditional Posadas and other time-honored celebrations. There is growing concern that Latinos are becoming “muy agringados.” Too much like Gringos.

Actually, the acculturation of Navidad is a two-way street. Nothing exemplifies it more than the ubiquitous piñata. Walk into any store selling party items and hanging from the ceiling will be piñatas of every conceivable description. Once reserved for special festive events, piñatas are now a favorite for all occasions. The construction and the goodies it contains vary from location to location, but the fun of shattering it and scrambling for the loot are the highlights of many celebrations..

Another tradition rapidly gaining in popularity is the time honored tamalada, an event that draws families together to produce that favorite treat, the tamal. There are as many different kinds of tamales as there are families making them. Each batch is unique. Every family has its own matriarch who dictates how the tamales are to be made. The time-honored recipe is one of the most treasured gifts a mother can share with her daughter.

An event that is gaining adherents is the observance of the 12th of December in honor of la Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. Every year, more and more families celebrate novenas in her honor, and the festivities are becoming more elaborate. No other saint has had as many songs and prayers composed in his or her honor nor is as revered as la Virgen Morena. Her portrait hangs in countless homes and adorns altars dedicated to her in loving homage.

As important as the religious pageantry is the variety of delicious foods prepared during the holiday season. Tamales are just one of the delicacies that fill our homes with aromas. I still remember the buñuelos and their crispy taste that my mother prepared. They literally melted in your mouth. Pozole and atole were also favorites at our house, along with crunchy colaciones with their anise-flavored center.

Our decorations are also unique. The candles in the luminarias, outlining the walkway have mostly been replaced by electric Christmas lights. The manger scene housing Baby Jesus and the Holy Family is the center piece and focus of attention. Its importance is extenuated by the Posadas ritual that begins on the sixteenth of December and ends on Christmas Eve, depicting the unsuccessful search for shelter, by Mary and Joseph, after being turned away at the inn.

Usually led by two children, the Posadas allow families and neighbors to join together in the joyous celebration.

The internationalization of Christmas has also altered the giving of presents. In tradition-oriented families, presents are not exchanged on Christmas Day, but on the sixth of January to commemorate the arrival of the Magi bearing gifts for the Baby Jesus.

Some children write a letter to Santa and another one to the Magi in the hopes of receiving presents on both celebrated occasions.

Regardless of the changes and innovations, the reason why the season is so special remains constant: The birth of the Prince of Peace reminds us all of our brotherhood and the extent to which we rely not only upon our immediate family but on all mankind for our well-being.

Peace and goodwill to men means all of us. We are, as my mother often reminded me as I was growing up, “¡Todos somos hijos del mismo Dios!”
We are all children of the same God!

Yes, we should enjoy the festive mood of Navidad, but we should not overlook the reli-gious basis of the celebration. Without the birth of Christ, we would not be Christians. And being a Christian involves much more than simply blessing ourselves and professing our faith.

It is how we live our daily life that attests to whether the true Christmas spirit resides within us the entire year. Sharing and caring know no borders or seasons.

(Retired professor Raymond Rodriguez resides in Long Beach, Calif. He may be reached by e-mail at rayrodriguez@earthlink.net)

© 2005, Hispanic Link News Service
12/11/05
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