FELIZ NAVIDAD!

As I sit here on my terrace in Ajijic, Mexico, it is hard to believe that White Christmas could even exist. It is about 70 degrees and only partly cloudy here. There have been local celebrations but we have missed them all somehow, though the streets are dotted with brightly colored piñatas and the plaza has Mary, Jesus and the Wisemen in their rightful places. Tomorrow we will join a friend at her lovely home for a potluck with 8 or 9 other folks; strangers that may well become friends. It seems to happen easily here. No matter where we go there are locals and gringos ready to discuss whatever comes to mind.

Yesterday 2 of my gringo neighbors joined us here in our little yard to celebrate Christmas with a posada (a celebration happening frequently from December 16 to 24 ) for the 5 little Mexican niños (children) across the street. Gethyn was the leader with cookies, a piñata and homemade presents for the little ones. Barbara brought juice and good will.

Ben parted our “garage” gates to open our yard to the street then hung the rope of the piñata over the gate frame. He became the “swinger” of the piñata as each child (and some of the adults) took a whack at the shiny swaying object full of candy and peanuts. One by one Arel, Valeria, Josue and Jose stepped up to the plate with giggles and smiling faces. Little Mateo was a bit reluctant but eventually took a turn.

Piñatas are a tradition commonly associated with Mexico. The idea came from the Spanish in the 16th century and was originally used as a religious tradition. The 7 points on the piñata represented the 7 deadly sins, the pot represented evil and the goodies inside the “temptations of evil”. The singing (a special song our neighbors sang that we could not understand), turning and shouting represented the disorientation created by temptation. Beating the piñata represented the struggle against evil and the breaking represented the rewards of keeping the faith. The religious association has lost favor and it is a now a game for parties and celebrations, especially at Christmas. (See Wikipedia for more interesting history.)

We served the children juice and cookies and the adults coffee as we did our best to converse in our limited Spanish. The little ones chatter as if you totally understand them and look perplexed when you don’t know how to answer. The hobby horses and cloth dolls with dresses (made by Gethyn) were a big hit!

Ben and I haven’t had much time to think about gifts but he ended up at a basket store the other day hoping to pick up a nice one I’d spotted as a Christmas gift for me. Problem was I was already there picking it up! And then I scurried off (thanks to my neighbor Vidette) to the nearby plant store to secretly buy him 2 crown of thorn plants since we had to leave ours in NC. A pair of slippers waits for him somewhere between Laredo, TX and Ajijic. Things shut down for days around here now so there’s no telling when he’ll see them. I’m sure they’ll be welcomed anytime.

We are happy here in West Ajijic, in our little purple house. We are ready to relax now that we are beginning to feel a bit more organized. Hopefully there’s a car in our very near future as we’ve realized how time and energy-consuming it is to ride a bus when you’ve been shopping. And impossible if you’re trying to buy furniture. We look forward to our first visitors next week and hope they will see what we see in this place we now call home.

To All Our Friends & Family-Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo! Que seas bendecido en el ano que viene! (May you be blessed in the coming year!)