How is your Portugese?

Here we go to visit Brazil - one of only three countries in the world that speak Portugese. And now we are officially below the equator. So let's test your geography - what season is it in Brazil in December? Winter? Nope! It's actually summer! Imagine Christmas with temperatures in the 70's or warmer.

Since it is so warm in Brazil for Christmas, Papai Noel (Santa) has to make a little change. Instead of a fur or wooly coat and suit he gets to don a silk suit and might even get rid of his hat if a silk one isn't available.

A tradition that I found in my research is the amigo secreto (secret friend). At the beginning of December friends and family pull names and send correspondence and encouragement to that person under a pseudonym through out the holiday season. On Christmas the gather to exchange gifts and reveal their identity to their amigo.

Brazil has been home of many different cultures so many of the traditions are shared with the rest of the world. The large Roman Catholic population is known to attend a midnight mass known as Missa de Galo (The Rooster's Mass) which doesn't end until 1 AM! And it is still followed by a large meal - not something that is common any other time of the year. Traditional dishes are taken from all over the world with turkey, ham, rice and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Even some German and Italian dishes have been known to make it to the festive table.

And yet another surprise for me on my trip around the world this holiday season. If you had told me I could have Italian on Christmas in Brazil I would have called you a liar! A million thank you's to those of you who have been my travelling companions. Here's to many more surprises and lessons along the way to the holiday!

Christmas with Christina and Mariah Today!

Bet you didn't knot that Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey were from Venezuela (at least according to Wikipedia)! So we'll just crash at their houses today. I am really excited about Christmas in Venezuela. I found some REALLY neat traditions to share with you.

Like most of the Hispanic cultures we have visited the celebration begins on December 16th with the display of the nativity which they call the pecebres. They also begin their Misas de Aguinaldo (Early Morning Masses) which happen daily. And don't think you get to sleep through it! They set of predown firecrackers to make sure everyone knows what time it is.

And if the firecrackers weren't enough to get you going watch the streets of Caracas (the capital). The streets are shut down so that people can rollerskate to mass. Every night before going to bed the children tie a string to their big toes and hang the string out the window. As the skaters go by they tug on any strings they see dangling. Now there's a wake up call!

On Christmas Eve things change up a little and they attend an evening mass called Nochebuena de Navidad (The Good Night of Christmas) which is followed by a traditional family dinner of hallacas (similar to Mexican tamales), pan de jamon (bread stuffed with ham and raisins - I'm thinking like a stromboli?); and dulce de lechoza (a dessert made of green papaya and brown sugar).

Have you noticed the lack of presents yet? That's because like Mexico they celebrate Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings) on January 6th. The night before the children leave straw out for the Wise Men's camels and in the morning it is replaced with gifts. If the children check the mirror they may even find a black smudge on their cheek showing that Balthazar the King of the Ethiopians blessed them with a kiss in their sleep.

I don't know about the rest of you but this sounds like a lot of really fun ways to celebrate the holiday! I wonder what would be left behind if an angel kissed your child in their sleep. This might be a good tradition to begin in our house this year!

**Sources for today's traditions - Sanats.net; NorthPole.com; ChristmasCarnivals.com)

Wordless Wednesday

Can you guess what Daddy is reaching for in that pile of leaves?

That would be Tucker - Daddy threw him in and he went under.

Think we need to do leaves a little more often?

Can't get enough of Wordless Wednesday? Check out the list at MomDot and add your own!

Diana Broke the Rules!

One of my new bloggy pals Diana missed the brain junk day where I specifically said that I had never been tagged! TTTHHBBBTTT! But this one is really fun!


Think 4! I had to go to the fourth picture file on my computer and post the fourth picutre. And then I get to tag four people to do the same. I was a little apprehensive because the Lion has a bad habit of taking pictures of food - ok I do too! But anyway! Check this one out!

How cute is he! This was before he REALLY started channelling his alter Rhino ego. It was our first trip to the Aquarium two years ago. Makes me remember why I like him as I fight back the urges brought on by the funky odors that are coming across my desk.

So it's time to Tag!

Sandy @ The Adams Family!
Sunny @ The X Mom
Jess @ NBP
Tena @ Punky Monkeys

I'm Headed to the Canal!

When I made my list of countries to visit on my Christmas tour I thought the traditions would vary significantly - especially in Central America where there were so many different tribal influences - Mayan, Aztec etc. And there is some of that but it I am quickly learning that the global communtiy is very quickly bleeding one culture into another.

Our next stop on the tour is Panama where I thought for sure there would be a lot of very different traditions since it is the gateway between North and South America. Guess what? I forgot about our little visit there called the Panama Canal! As a result I am learning that there is a very strong American influence on their holiday traditions.

Panama strikes me as a bit conflicted in their holiday. Christmas is brought in with fireworks - very unlike their highly religious neighbors who celebrate with midnight mass. Then they go to Mass the next morning to offer prayers. Particularly in the area around the canal they are very American in their decorating with elaborate outdoor lights and flood lights and Christmas trees. But like every good holiday they don't hold back on the food. Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice), ham, tamales, fruitcake, and bowls of fruit all come together for a family meal.

Of all the countries (all 3 of them!) that we have visited so far Panama has been one of the most interesting. They have married the American and Hispanic cultures to create a very unique holiday of their own. I would love to be able to pass through the canal this time of year and see just how close that marriage is!

Grab your GORP! We're Headed Further South!

It did a funky snow, sleet, rain thing here today while the sun was shining and I decided that I'm going to stay on my tour of Christmas Around the World as long as I can! And because of all that nastiness I'm going to head a little further south - to Costa Rica!

**The info I am about to share comes from Michael Smith by way of the Cocori (Complete Costa Rica) site.**

This was a really fun article to read! And the stuff I learned! Just wait until I get to the part about New Years!

How many of you have your tree up? And I am absolutely sure you used a cypress branch and painted it white right? How neat is that! They decorate them with bright paper and mini lights (talk about easy decorating!) and under them they place their portal - Nativity. According to Smith every year they add to and elaborate on their Nativity to make it grander and more impressive until it can actually out grow the space under the tree. One site (and I've lost it now) noted that people actually tour from home to home to admire los portales much like we would for the lights.

And one more thing before I move on - if you don't own your home, you use a portal that has been given to you in faith that the portal will bring you a home of your own. Now THAT is a gift!

Then you have the topes. Originally a procession of horses that were used to cut prize bulls out for the bull fights, the tope has evolved into a full blown parade much like I think of Carnival. Still with plenty of horses and proud owners and riders, but expanded with floats, brightly painted carriages and ox carts and even clowns and bands.

And what would a Latin American celebration be without a bullfight? Maybe I slept through too much history but when I think bullfight I think of Spain before I think of Central America so this was a new one to me. Part of the fight is (and forgive me as I laugh at men!) a swarm of men who rush the bull and scare him into fighting. Wait for the other shoe now! They don't harm the bull but the men get their tails kicked!

Now here is a tradition that I am all in favor of the U.S. adopting. There is a manadory Christmas bonus distributed to all laborers with a national lottery drawn on Christmas! And it's not just a bonus - it is a full months wages!

Like Mexico, Costa Rica celebrates on January 6th to close the holiday season. It is a more solemn event with family and friends gathering to pray and take down the portal. Then they have a formal meal together to close the season.

Before some one calls me on it - I didn't miss New Years! It is a custom for the women in Costa Rica to sweep their ENTIRE homes on New Year's Day. They start in the back and sweep to the front to get all the dust and dirt of the year out. It is symbolic of starting new and is intended to bring good luck in the coming year.

It gives a whole new twist to your spring cleaning doesn't it? So there you have it! Christmas in Costa Rica! So pass the tamales and the super spiked eggnog (rompope)! Feliz Navidad!

Christmas Around the World South of the Border!

Welcome to Christmas Around the World! In an effort to add some new traditions to our family I thought I might do a little exploring and see how other cultures and nations celebrate Christmas. So strap on your backpacks and let's take a little trip together around the globe!

I thought we would just take a little stretch of our legs today and head south to some warmer climes in Mexico! If you are a little weary of the commercialism and gimmee attitude of "American" Christmas, this might just be the place for you. In my digging I learned that Christmas is treated very religiously in Mexico which makes sense considering the Catholic faith base in the country.

Nine days before Christmas (the 16th) families begin Posadas - mini parades to celebrate the Nativity. Children acting as Mary and Joseph pass through a village and knock on three doors. At the first two they are turned away and told that there is no room. At the third door they are welcomed in and the family and friends gathered join in praying the Rosary together which is followed by a formal meal.

Since opening the borders with NAFTA Mexico has adopted many of the American traditions such as Santa and gifts on Christmas but traditionally the 25th passed without very much ado. Instead families celebrated Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings) on January 6th. The children leave their shoes (versus stockings) out for their gifts. Of course there is a family meal like ours but one particular part of the meal is very interesting.

The Rosca del Reyes (described as an oversized egg bread wreath - a big bagel if you will) is shared with the family. If you are familiar with the king cake of Mardis Gras this popped into my head. There is a ceramic Baby Jesus baked into the bread (try to to think too hard about that!) and the person who receives the piece of bread with jesus is named the His godparent. They go about preparing a "christening" of sorts which is celebrated February 2nd at the Day of the Candle. The Day of the Candle is when the Nativity is put away and the "closing ceremony" if you will of the holiday season.

Did you follow all of that? They kick it off on December 16th with Las Posadas and don't wrap up until February 2nd! I don't know about you but that seems like a very long holiday season to me. What I love about the traditions of Mexico is how little they focus on the gifts (traditionally at least!) and how much they focus on the reason behind the season - The birth of the Savior!

If there is one thing I can take from the traditions of Mexico it is to keep the Christ Child at the center of my holiday celebration. Have you ever thought about the traditional arrangement of a Nativity scene? The Wise Men and their gifts are not set up in the middle. Keep that in mind as you head into this holiday season. And may the peace heralded by the star be in your heart all year!