| |
Christmas Celebrations in
Latin America
In Latin America. The nine days before Christmas
have special importance in Mexico. These days are
called posadas, which means inns or lodgings. On
each day, Mexicans reenact Mary and Joseph's search
for lodgings on the first Christmas Eve. Two
children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph lead a
procession of people to a particular house. The
people knock on the door and ask for lodgings. They
are refused at first but finally are admitted.
After each posada ceremony, Mexicans feast and
celebrate. Children enjoy trying to break the pinata,
a brightly decorated paper or clay figure containing
candy and small gifts. The pinata may be shaped like
an animal, an elf, a star, or some other object. It
is hung from the ceiling, and the children take
turns trying to hit it with a stick while
blindfolded. When someone breaks the pinata, the
gifts and candy fall to the floor, and the children
scramble for them.
La Posadas Celebration Recipes (Dec. 16th-24)
 Champurrado
(Chocolate Atole)
6 cups whole milk
1 cup masa harina--corn flour
2 cups water
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, grated
1 cinnamon stick
Heat the mild and chocolate in a saucepan, stirring
to dissolve the chocolate. When chocolate is
completely dissolved, remove from the heat and set
aside to keep warm. Mix the masa harina with the
water in another saucepan; place over low heat, add
the cinnamon stick, and cook until the mixture has
thickened and the masa becomes translucent. Add the
chocolate milk and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar
and simmer for a few minutes. Remove the cinnamon
stick and serve the champurrado hot in cups or mugs.
Arroz Dulce (Rice Sweet)
¾ cup rice
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups milk
1 cup rich cream
¼ tsp. salt
Scald milk. Put the rice into a deep baking dish,
cover with the hot milk, and bake in a moderate oven
for 3 hours, or until the rice is soft. Stir
occasionally during first hour to prevent sticking.
If necessary, add more hot milk. When almost done,
add vanilla, sugar, and cream, and finish baking
Three Kings Day Recipe (Rosca de Reyes) (Jan. 6)
Three Kings Day Bread
3 1/2 cups flour
1 packet yeast
3/4 cups of sugar
7 eggs
125 grams butter
1/4 cup lukewarm milk
Dash of salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp aniseed
100 grams raisins
1 tsp vanilla
50 grams candied figs
50 grams candied orange
50 grams candied lemon
50 grams candied cherries
50 grams candied citron
1 beaten egg
sugar
butter
flour
Dissolve the yeast in five tablespoons lukewarm
milk. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, melted
butter, milk, salt, cinnamon, aniseed, raisins, and
vanilla. Knead into a ball; grease it with some
butter and place near a warm stove until the dough
doubles in size. (About 2 1/2 hours) Meanwhile cut
into strips the candied fruit.
Knead, banging it down on the floured tabletop, to
make it soft and pliable. Form the dough into a ring
or rosca. Insert the baby figurine. Place the rosca
on a greased backing tray. Decorate it with the
strips of candied fruit. Leave the rosca once more
to fluff up again. Brush the rosca with the beaten
egg and sprinkle over granulated sugar. Bake for 40
minutes at 360° F ( 180°C) in preheated oven. Enjoy!
And don't forget whomever gets the Baby figurine
will have to host a new merienda come February 2!
In Venezuela, people have a late supper after
returning from midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Most
of these meals include hallacas, which are corn-meal
pies stuffed with chicken, pork, beef, and spices.
You can find these recipes at Santa Claus Costumes
and Customs, coming soon. A
favorite Christmas dish in Argentina is ninos
envueltos (wrapped children). It consists of rolled
beef slices filled with seasoned mincemeat. Other
recipes for
a Latin American Celebration.
Brazilians are a mix of different ethnic people, and
as a former Portuguese colony, they have many
Christmas customs which originate from this
heritage.
One tradition is to create a
nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium"
which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first
slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in
northeastern Brazil. Nowadays presépios are set up
in December and displayed in churches, homes, and
stores.
Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in
Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland.
When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk
clothing due to the summer heat.
A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham,
colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit
dishes.
Decorations include fresh flowers picked from the
garden. Fireworks go off in the skies over the cites
and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be
seen against the night skies in major cities such as
Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro.
In Brazil there is folk dancing and singing and the
festivities go on until January 6th, which the
Brazilians refer to as Three Kings Day. January 6th
is supposed to be the day when three wise men
visited Jesus to bring him gifts.
Children in some Latin-American countries, including
Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, receive
gifts
on Christmas Day. In Argentina, Puerto Rico,
Venezuela, and most areas of Mexico, the wise men
leave the presents on January 5th, the eve of Epiphany.
|
 |
|
|
