Feliz Navidad

What a gift it has been to really see how Christmas is celebrated in another country-- not just passing through to see the city lights or attending one night of festivity, but living alongside the people for the weeks leading up to and including Christmas Day. We have commented to each other how full our lives have been during this season and yet we aren’t going to work everyday, we aren’t studying for exams, we aren’t hanging lights or trimming a tree or baking for gifts! How do we do it back home?
One of the most important traditions here is the Nativity Scene. Spaniards have recently begun buying trees for their homes, but the oldest and most popular custom involves a day (or two) of setting up an extravagant, detailed Belen which is Spanish for Bethlehem. Sevilla has a central plaza filled with temporary stores all filled with different artists’ figures, houses, palm trees, and animals that the locals buy, adding to their sets at home.
We have also enjoyed something called zambomba which is a beautiful flamenco tradition in this southern province of Andalusia. Everybody gathers around a fire (typically it would have been in the courtyard of someone’s home) to sing, clap their hands and enjoy the Christmas songs to the sound of the guitar, tambourines and, of course, the zambomba, an instrument for which the celebration is named. It is basically a clay vessel covered with animal skin. In the center of the covering a long cane is secured which produces a deep sound when pulled up and down. We have seen three zambombas this past week – one in a large patio of the university, one at the elementary school of our friends’ children and another on a blocked city street nearby. When Mary got up “this morning” she looked at the clock (which read 12:15) and said, “That’s what the clock looked like when we came home last night.” . . . our typical schedule.
We will spend Christmas Eve at the home of our dear friends and they are even going to prepare a turkey for us! Jane, Mary & I will endeavor to bake an apple pie, but if our recent chocolate chip cookie attempt is any indication of success, they’ll be fortunate to eat dessert. That night will be full of anticipation for the arrival of Papa Noel, but the bigger event takes place on January 6th when the Three Kings come to bring gifts.
Thank you for the Christmas cards that you’ve sent. You can’t imagine what a blessing one piece of mail is. And while we are loving this special trip, it is difficult to be away from all of you, especially during the holidays. But we joyfully celebrate Christ’s birth and anticipate Chapter Two of our adventure . . . South America. God bless each one of you!