Feeling Festive!
Ecuadorians often begin their evenings when I am ready for slumber! (My sleep patterns are more like the birds’ than the Ecuadorians!) Last year I spent Christmas Eve with friends, and I was amused to find that their day was like all others! When the sun set, and no one had started cooking, I asked if I could help prepare some food. ”No,” they smiled, we’re going to a cousin’s house to eat..”
Around 11 in the evening, we drove to the other side of town to the cousin’s house. People were serving their plates, so we were quickly seated at the dining room table and feasted on turkey and trimmings and white wine! At the stroke of midnight, everyone stopped eating and exchanged greetings, and then we resumed our meal! We visited for another few hours, then returned home!
I questioned a friend today about their tradition, and she said that they also eat at midnight, and they exchange greetings in observance of the birth of the Christ Child. Gift giving is for the children, while the “Papa Noel” tradition follows in February in honor of the three wise men who brought presents to the Christ Child.
And that, my friends, is my Christmas report! We’re getting a bit of rain, which means I’ll be ‘ht and miss’ on WordPress for the next few months, at the whim of the temperamental electricity!
See more Christmas posts at Jake’s Sunday Post and festive posts at WHERE’S MY BACKPACK.
Feliz Navidad!
Z
I like the festive bird all dressed up in red and on Christmas day, It’s forcasted to rain here, too.
we were happy to receive the rain, and the backroads turned from dust to mud! by afternoon, most of the mud had burned off!
we are lucky that it doesn’t get real hot here. in fact, my fingers are a bit cool as i type tonight!
feliz navidad!
z
This is so interesting! The fellow named Omar who often comments on my blog is from Panama. He says they eat quite late, too, with turkey, special bread and wine – perhaps some other dishes. Then at midnight, they exchange greetings, and continue on with the party!
I just laughed at your egret. Either that’s some truly creative photoshopping, or you have some of the most fashion-conscious birds in the world!
Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad!
I’ve asked a lot of people about their Christmas tradition this year. Most eat very late, but Ecuadorians tend to eat late at any time of the year! Rosa, who is married to a Texan, told me today how she loves Cajun cooking. She also said she had never had pecan pie until she was in Texas… I didn’t ask her if she’d ever been served fruitcake!
the egrets red accents are from the irfanview paint option. i am one of those rare birds who has never used photoshop! i would not know where to start!
feliz navidad to you as well!
z
Feliz Navidad from Far north of you on the Pacific coast, Port Townsend, WA where it rainy and cold.
oh richard! i am glad that you love cold weather, and i am glad to say that i am working on a painting on the deck and am barefooted and short sleeved and am a bit sweaty!
are you still looking for volunteer medical work?
feliz navidad as well! z
I like the idea of exchanging greetings at midnight and leaving the Papa Noel part till later. What is the significance of your comment on the Fruitcake?
Hey! yes, the papa noel doesn’t belong with the story of christmas. i’m glad that some cultures address that in separate holidays!
here’s the rest of the fruitcake story!
http://shoreacres.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/the-fruitcakes-revenge/
z
Now that you mention it, I remember part of my childhood when that was our practice too… Interesting.
Happy Holidays to You & Yours! 
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Eliz
You are such a joy! happy holidays to you as well! Z
Love the festive bird
Yes the crazy timngs in Latin America, as also in Spain, take some getting used to. Apart from the late dinners, it is hard when travelling to have nothing to do till midday. Museums, even some shops we found open after 11am!!
Feliz Navidad to you too Lisa
feliz navidad to you as well! yes, many times when there’s a late-night function, i either gracefully decline, or i stay in the nearby hostal so i won’t have to loiter around town for hours until the event begins!
happy holidays!
z
Feliz Navidad to you! The bird is beautiful and so is your story. I guess you get used to it, the late nights, because you have to when you’re travelling. Back in my own kitchen the routines of earlier food is welcome!
si; i like the largest meal in mid afternoon and very light food at night. unless there’s a social gathering, the daily almuerzo seems to be the most important meal of the day. there’s a soup, main dish and fruit juice, and sometimes a dessert as well!
happy holidays!
z
Merry Christmas from the frozen North where we are expecting wind-chills from 5 to 30 below tonight! Santa had better be wearing long underwear!
ooooooh! way too cold for me, but i am glad that i have friends who endure – and even thrive in those temperatures!
happy holidays!
z
Midnight! Maybe in my younger days
Still, tradition is heartwarming at any hour of the day. Merry Christmas, z. Hope the new year brings better Internet connectivity and more
thanks, i’ll think of you tonight when we are feasting on turkey at midnight. i am working at home (playing? i’m painting!) and will go to town tonight.
we’re just beginning the rainsy season, and each week the rains will increase. by february, there is usually some flooding, and by march, the rains will slowly fade away for another year.
z
Feliz Navidad, Lisa. Late dinners are tough but fun to be around friends and conversations at any hour. Love the egret.His necklace is stunning.
i’ll tell mister egret that you like his holiday attire!
thanks!
z
I really enjoy your glimpses into life in Ecuador. Thanks. Feliz Navidad z.
thank you so much. as you can tell, i enjoy living here!
feliz navidad as well!
z
Great Christmas Entry , Merry Christmas Playamart
thank YOU.. feliz navidad!
z
Feliz Navidad, Z. My wish for you this holiday season is that you don’t lose your electricity during the rainy season. I’ll be in Z withdrawal!
you are too funny, but of course you totally understand about rain and power issues.
yesterday we were without power.. today we were without internet! it’s all working now, though a painting is waiting my attention!
ah, if i could only painting and read/write/manage photos at the same time!
feliz navidad!
z
Feliz Navidad Z! Always wonderful to hear of another culture’s traditions. A blessed Christmas season to you and an upcoming year filled with joy, hope, and good health.
and the same to you! i hope that our paths cross in 2013!
z
I would love that!
That tree photo/artwork is beautiful Lisa! I should be peeling veg right now. Soon… soon… Merry Christmas!
you are too funny! while some photos were uploading, i prepped some ‘lentil cakes’ and cooked a test to check the seasoning.. mmmmmmm! they will make great ‘tapas’ for us as we wait for midnight to arrive so we can eat!!!!
i’m glad you enjoyed the images!
feliz navidad!
z
Love the bird! It’s 10PM here and fireworks and festivities are well underway in our neighborhood. I’ll have to ask about the midnight dinners. Feliz Navidad a usted y su familia!
igualmente! oh yes, the fireworks!!!! latinos love fireworks!
Thanks for sharing the celebrations of others. I love the bird as well, so vivid. Take care Z. Happy holidays, BTG
i’m glad you enjoyed the festive bird! it’s been an interesting week, and i hope to manage those photos soon.
happy new year to you and your family!
z
i’m glad you enjoyed the festive bird! it’s been an interesting week, and i hope to manage those photos soon.
happy new year to you and your family!
zz
I enjoy learning about Ecuador through your posts. So interesting that everyone eats their Christmas dinner so late at night. How can you sleep after all that food?
I love the way you dressed up the egret!
hey
i’m glad you enjoyed the festive egret!
yes, it’s strange to eat such a large meal at such a late hour! they also ate a fairly nice family meal around six in the evening!!!! they cooked before they cooked!!!!
i have photos in the camera and will try to get a post out soon. there’s also a painting i’m working on, and the painting trumps the photos right now!
have a great last week of the year!
z
merry Christmas to you…
hey amigo!
merry christmas to you as well!
grrrrrrrrrrrracias!
z
I’m thinking that after such a late feast every one talks till early hours then sleeps till late next day, or that day depending on when you get to bed. Loved reading about your traditions. Hope your internet is not down for too long. Best wishes to you for 2013
hey.. i was the first to leave at one thirty in the morning.. i’m sure that most of they stayed up til dawn. it was a great experience!
z
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
thanks, harold! i hope that the new year is kind to you and your family as well!
here’s to many more stunning photo moments!
z
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Have a blessed day!
Carol
same to you, amiga! i’ve been having trouble with the ‘reply’ to comments, but it’s working fairly well today!
i hope that your new year’s celebrations are fun and that the new year brings great things into your life!
z
Wow! Christmas is in the heart. We can be anywhere in the world and the colors and joys of Christmas lives and dazzles like no other. The bird on top of the tropical tree reminds us of that as well. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful bird shot, Z! Midnight feast sounds interesting.
it was interesting! i’ll have to work on those photos soon! z
Sounds like fun! Merry Christmas
thanks, amiga. i’m sure yours was a lovely one. happy new year as well. do you have the ‘ano viejo’ tradition of making the papier mache old men and burning them at midnight?
z
Ohh! In Panama we do, we call it año viejo and at midnight we burn it. Is kind of fun
G
What a wonderful Christmas. It sounds so fun and carefree, I love it!
thanks so much! yes, it was quite unique. photos soon! z
Excellent, I look forward to them!