Warning this is a long post!!!
Today was the day I had arranged to take my girls to a local Bistro where the head Chef was putting on a class on making Ginger Bread houses. I had signed the girls girls up earlier on in the week and I went to Casa Hogar this morning where a driver with a van from the Bistro was there to pick us up and take us to the Bistro.
The girls were excited and this is the calm before the storm!!
There were 8 other children there and the Chef had pre made the ginger bread houses.
The first step was for each child to make a Chef’s hat.
Takes great concentration!!
Next they saw the ginger bread walls being cut out.
Then the real fun begins!!
The girls seemed to really enjoy themselves and I think an equal amount of candy got in their mouths as on the house!!!!
The finished product which the girls took home with them.
The girls were rewarded with pizza and pop and then it was off to the stables to see the horses.
I like this photo!!
Then it was off to the sheep pen!!
Finally a chance to ride a bike.
The driver then took us back to Casa Hogar and the girls were happy to share their houses with the other girls.
It was so special to see how they mixed so well with the other kids and parents and I know they had a blast!!
Mexican Traditions for Christmas.
Christmas for Mexicans, in traditional homes and rural areas, is a religious holiday.
It is a celebration of the Nativity. This means the birthday of Our Lord Jesus. In order to prepare for the day of symbolic commemoration, we have the "Posadas". These celebrations are a "Novena" or nine days before the 24 which is the "Noche Buena" or "Holy Night".
These Posadas are an enactment of looking for lodging of St. Joseph and Virgin Mary, called The Pilgrims going to Bethlehem for the Census according to the Scriptures. In Spanish we called them: "Los Peregrinos, San José y la Virgen María". Each family in a neighbourhood, will schedule a night for the Posada to be held at their home, starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th on Noche Buena.
Every home will have a Nativity scene. The hosts of the home are the innkeepers, and the neighbourhood children and adults are Los Peregrinos, who have to request lodging through singing a simple chant. All carry small lit candles in their hands and four teenagers of about the same height are chosen to carry Los Peregrinos, which are two small statues of St. Joseph leading a donkey, which Virgen Mary is riding side-saddle. The head of the procession will have a candle inside of a paper lamp shade that looks like an accordion but open at the top and it is called a "Farolito" or little lantern.
The Peregrinos will ask for lodging in three different houses but only the third one will allow them in. That will be the house that is supposed to have the Posada for that evening. Once the innkeepers let them in, the group of guests comes into the home and kneels around the Nativity scene to pray the Rosary. The Rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer, which consists of the following prayers: 50 Hail Mary, 5 Our Father , 5 Glory and the Litany, which is a series of Praises for the Virgin Mary, plus singing traditional songs like Holy Night in Spanish of course!
After all the prayer is done, then it comes the party for the children. There will be a Piñata, (pronounce Pignata, for it has an ñ instead of an n), filled with peanuts in the shell, oranges, tangerines, sugar canes, and seldom wrapped hard candy. Of course, there will be other types of chants the children will sing while the child in turn is trying to break the Piñata with a stick while he/she will be blindfolded.
Although the Piñata was originally from Italy, it has become a Mexican tradition for celebrations where there are children involved. The Piñata was made out of a clay pot and decorated with crepe paper in different colors. Today's piñatas are made out of cardboard and paper mache techniques and decorated with crepe paper. This change was made to prevent the children from cutting their hands when going for the fruit and candy when the Piñata was broken and the clay piece would become a hazard. They have all kinds of designs besides the traditional star.
That tells you a little bit about the celebration the girls at Casa Hogar participated in tonight.
They were all dressed in colourful costumes.
Also in attendance!!
They proceed to the first house.
It was just too must for someone!!!
They get turned away…
But eventually find a place to rest.
I was asked to man the table handing out brochures about Casa Hogar and accepting donations.
I was asking the donkey for a donation!!
I had company for a while!
They came back after face painting.
It was a special evening and again I was amazed at seeing over 50 children, some very small, be together for over two hours where candy was given out plus food and drinks and I did not hear one single child cry or pout or fight!!
Wish you could have been there Sara ….the girls were asking after you again tonight…….hope the weekend is a good one for all.
2 comments:
The girls look gorgeous in both celebrations. They made some origingal Mexican gingerbread houses.
Did you think you would collect more donations dressing as Padre Pearson for the event?
I thought about unzipping my sweater a couple of inches but realized that would not be appropiate....the girls were so thrilled with their houses and you know how they enjoy getting their fingers sticky...they were asking after you again, come back!!!!!
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