Everlasting Christmas

Christmas has always been a big thing in my family.

My parents managed to make sure that my brother and I grew up with a strong family presence following both cultural and religious traditions, without repressing our personalities, for which I am infinitely grateful.

Among my family's most deeply rooted traditions is Christmas. In my memories, the official Soundtrack is an album from the late 80s, which included Christmas carols sung by the most popular Mexican artists of that time. It was titled, "Eterna Navidad" (the "Everlasting Christmas").

We were so excited about the festivities that my brother and I would start listening to the album weeks in advance.

Mexican "Posadas"

Having a large extended family, we were able to have authentic Christmas Posadas with great attendance every year. An schedule was established among the aunts and uncles of the family, and from the 16th through the 24th of December, each day a Posada would take place in a different house.

My grandparents would bring the figures of the Holly Pilgrims, printed sheets with Christmas Carols, and some musical instruments for us, their grandchildren to use.

The Rosary was prayed, and between each "mystery," we would sing a carol. At the end of the Rosary, my grandmother would call two of the grandchildren from the respective house, who were to hold the figure of the Virgin Mary, and the figure of St. Joseph. Then a musical representation of their pilgramage would take place.

Some of those present would go to a separate room and close the door to sing the part of the "landloards", those of us who remained outside would sing the part of the Holly Pilgrims.

Mexican "Posada" Basics

Once the pilgrims were received, we would sing one or two Christmas carols, and then move on to the piñata.

Dinner followed. While the adults talked, we, the cousins would get together to play hide and seek, "Stop" or whatever game we could think of. We laughed, talked nonsense, and exchanged ideas of what to ask baby JJesus for.

The hosts would hand out the famous "bolos" ( plastic bags containing penauts, oranges, nuts and candies, or as my grandmother called it "la colación"). Usually these goodies were given away with the premise that only those who has prayed the Rosary and sang, would get one.

In other words, the Posadas were an immense joy. To see all the cousins, play together, break the piñata, eat candy, and repeat it all for 8 days in a row! What else could we all asked for?

Other traditions

Every Christmas my grandparents would put up a beautiful Nativity Scene, with lots of figurines, vegetation, little animals, houses, and even a small lake. I remember the excitement of seeing my grandfather planning how it would look like, and when he let us "help him", which in truth was more about giving him extra work while he later needed to correct what we did halfway, but even so he also looked very happy.

I spent hours admiring his nativity scenes, and on Sundays also the ones that were put up in the churches in my hometown.

In one year, my dad and some uncles organized a "Pastorela" (a Nativity play), in which almost all of us, the cousins participated. The process was a lot of fun, which included making part of the scenery, and many hours of rehearsals to learn the dialogues. Anf or course the result was amazing too!

In another year, my brother, my dad, and I built a piñata in the shape of the Challenger Shuttle. It was a lot of fun, and the piñata had so much paste on it that the whole family got to hit it before it finally broke and released the candy.

Thankfully, my parents never revelead to me what actually happened to the real #Challenger and its brave crew.

Set up the bar high

Those 15 days between the first posada and the New Year's Eve celebration, every year of my childhood, were the best gifts my family could have given me.

My memories of those years are with me every Christmas. And although I sadly accept that the season will never feel as good as it did then, I try to find the beauty in the Christmases of adulthood.

Now, as a migrant, far from my country, and more importantly, from my family and friends; the memories mentioned above are with me. Actually they are much of a safety embrace.

All that dedication of my parents and grandparents that generated so much joy and magic, is a demonstration of pure love. Even though that chapter of my life is behind me, in my mind and in my heart, those Christmases are more than a reference, they are actually my definition of what the season should be. And so, the season remains my Eternal Christmas. Merry, vibrant, comforting and so full of love and peace.

My wish for future generations is that they can also feel its magic and charm, and that just like me, they can also save some of it for a rainy day.

Lullaby to Baby Jesus