Christmas Decorations

The malls, stores, schools and houses are decorated for Christmas. The decorations are not as elaborate as those in the USA. There are the traditional Santas and Christmas trees but with a Mexican influence. Piñatas and papel picado are side by side with the Christmas trees and shiny balls.

I have been working with the teachers at the Cipactli kindergarten for the past two weeks and the pictures below show their decorations.






Hanging outside the classrooms are piñatas. Each point of the star piñata has a meaning but at this moment I can´t remember what it is.

Sorry, I forgot to turn this picture around but Santa swings happily in front of the classroom door.

The manger scene is ready for the Pastorela play that the students will do today for their parents. The stable is made from dry palm leaves.

Inside the classroom there is a little bit of holiday cheer.

I know the picture is dark but I want to show you the tree and Santa in the window at the house of my neighbor across the street. He put this up on Nov. 15th! Since they don´t have Thanksgiving here, decorations don´t wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving to be displayed!

St. Michael the Archangel Church is outlined with lights. It is such a beautiful church. There are 2 very tall steeples (out of the picture) which are lined with lights too and a huge piñata between them. You see the tree on the right, and on the other side of the church is a very large cross with lights.

Inside the church there is no cross over the altar, but this huge statue of St. Michael which looks like he is coming away from the wall, with his hand outstretched. The church is decorated with piñatas and papel picado and gorgeous flowers are in front of the altar and by the statues on either side of the altar.

Most Christmas trees in the stores, malls and homes are sparsely decorated, lots of lights but very few balls or tinsel. Many homes and some stores have the "icicle lights" hanging from the roof. There are lots of poinsetta plants being sold on street corners and most restaurants use the poinsettias as decorations.

There won´t be a tree at our house this year since I won´t be home until 4 days before Christmas but we will enjoy the trees and decorations at MJ and CA´s house on the 24th and at AE and C´s house on the 25th.

Hasta luego.

The Grocery Store

Grocery stores here are much like the stores in the USA. The aisles of cereal, canned goods, soaps and detergents are the same. The produce department is laid out the same but is larger. Where we may have a small display of peppers, they have a huge display. Instead of taking of taking up an endcap or half a shelf for bananas, they have a whole long shelf of bananas. I have not been able to find any "baking potatoes" (Idaho or Russet). The only potatoes I have seen are "white potatoes". There are large displays of 2 kinds of limes, large and small ones, but no lemons. Fresh nopales (cactus paddles) are always available, as are oranges, tangerines (nectarinas!), and apples and pears from the USA are priced very reasonably.



Some of the most glaring differences I have shown below! I still can't get used to food being displayed uncovered.


These next 3 pictures are special foods on a holiday table. They had a similar one for El Dia de Los Muertos and other Mexican holidays. Nothing on this table is covered and it is a "self-service" table.








The white tower is a cream cheese dish, covered with frosting, and if you want some, just take the scoop and put it into a box. I think it is a roastbeef next to the white display. The woman in the back had just put a platter on the table. She is available to help if you call her out.

Breads and meats and a wine glass to make the table look pretty.

In the front left are hot dogs and behind them are roasted turkey legs. In the front right is some kind of meat. There are no identifying signs so I didn't recognize many of the foods.

The fish department is not just for holidays! It looks like this every day with uncovered octopus, eels, and other "delicacies"!

And here is the fish, whole or filleted. $29.90 a kilo is about $2.90 in US dollars.

The bakery area in this store is quite large. Once again, nothing is covered. If you want something from the shelf, you pick up a tray and a pair of tongs and help yourself. When finished, the girl will bag your choices, shake off the tray and replace it on the pile of trays.

The sweets in Mexico are called Pan Dulce. Often they are rather dry with cinnamon on the outside---good for dunking in coffee, but not very gooey good!

It is still surprising to me, everywhere I go, in grocery stores as well as in the puestos that sell food, none of the food is covered. Are we too "clean and healthy" in the USA, or.....???

Hasta luego.

The Salvation Army Kids Sing

The Salvation Army's big fundraiser is at Christmas. The children learn Christmas songs and perform at Walmart and Sam's. They sing twice on Saturday and each evening, except Monday, at 5:30pm.

Walmart and Sam's draw a lot of American and Canadian customers and also tourists since the cruise ships are docked across the street from the stores. Who can resist throwing loose change into the kids' baskets?






Their enthusiasm is contagious! Just look at those smiles! Check out the little guy!

And yes, here he is! He is 3 years old and about 3 feet tall! Those are bells on a stick that he shakes as he sings. Each child has bells or a tambourine to play.

The children are wearing new shoes, courtesy of the English-speaking Community Church that I have attended several times. The church members also pick the children up at the Salvation Army and take them home after they perform.

Getting into the swig of things! They sing some American songs which have been translated into Spanish and some Mexican Christmas songs. I recognized "Sleigh Ride" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town".

They divide the group in half and half sings at Walmart and the other half sings at Sam's. The two stores are right next to each other. These youngsters are waiting to walk over to Sam's Club.

It really puts you into the Christmas spirit to watch these children, who have so little, put their whole heart into their singing and dancing.

Hasta luego.

La Posada at the Colegio

Last Saturday the Colegio Mexicano-Americano held a Christmas Posada. It was not a Posada in the strictest sense of the word, but more of a Christmas Fair, with elements of the Posada thrown in. Whatever you may call it, lots of families came and enjoyed themselves.




The sign at the door invites everyone to "The Big Christmas Party, Saturday December 8th, beginning at 3:00pm, Don't miss it!" And next to the party sign is the Book Fair advertisement. Scholastic Books was holding a book fair all week, just like in the schools in the USA.

Some of the students put on a show. These 6th grade girls danced to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".

First-graders had fun dancing and singing their Christmas song.

The Junior High students put on a Pastorela. Unfortunately I was unable to get photos of it because it had gotten dark when the play started and I didn't have enough light to make pictures.

A Pastorela, or A Shepherd's Play, is a traditional play stemming from the 1500s which covers the events prior to the coming of Jesus and ends with the adoration of the shepherds to the baby Jesus in the manger.

The play is a cheerful, fun-loving story with characters of the devil, a hermit, angels, as well as Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the shepherds. It has music and dancing and is the story of how the devil puts obstacles in the way of the shepherds and it makes fun of the devil and ends with his defeat and the triumph of good over evil. Each region in Mexico uses its own songs and dances to personalize the play for their own area.

The young people, complete with costumes, had fun and did a good job with the play. I enjoyed it.

There were games for the kids. This table is playing "La Lotteria" or, as we know it: Bingo! They were using raw chick peas for the markers.

Here is a game you won't find being played at schools in the USA! These are beer bottles and soft drink bottles with money under them. The child held a wooden ring and threw it at the bottle. If they ringed or knocked down the bottle, they won the money!! The little boy in the back reset the bottles when they got knocked over.

Lots of good food to eat: tamales, tacos, sopes, elotes, enchiladas, aguas frescas, cake, soft drinks and coffee with kahlua (another thing you won't see at schools in the USA!!) were available.

The school employees, teachers and staff, worked long hours preparing for the fun, and many people came and enjoyed the afternoon.

Hasta luego.

Time Is Almost Up

It is said that Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel once wrote:

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."



I must remember this quote as my time here in PV is drawing to a close. I return home on December 20th, 10 days from now. I know I will have tears of sadness in my eyes when the plane takes off from Puerto Vallarta because I will miss my life here; I will also have tears of happiness in my eyes when the plane lands in Atlanta because I will be delighted to be with my family and friends again.

There have been many stressful times and many struggles to overcome but overall the experiences that I have had here have been positive. I made friends, learned first-hand about everyday living in Mexico, and experienced the traditions and culture which I had studied about in books. I hope that I was able to touch the lives of some of the children whom I served while teaching here.

The love, prayers, encouragement and support (both moral and financial) of my family and friends has made a huge difference in my ability to live here and to help improve the lives of the children in PV. I, and they, will be forever grateful.

In the meanwhile, I am making the most of my final days here. Last Friday I returned to "my class" at the Colegio Mexico-Americano to make Christmas cards with them for their parents. I had taken photos of each child and told them that we would make a card for their parents. They decorated red or green paper and pasted their picture in the card. A special treat of a candy cane with a Santa, Rudolph or a Christmas tree hanging from it and a brand new pencil (thank you, Beth, for the pencil donation) made them smile. They were happy to see me and I to see them!

I continue to meet with the English teachers. Tomorrow night we will make a video to send to their "sister school" in Milwaukee. Each teacher will introduce herself (in English) and tell a little about her professional and personal life. They are nervous about it but they have practiced and will do fine!

I have plans to see each friend for a good-bye visit and I still look forward to participating in the Guadalupe day on the 12th and a Christmas Posada before I leave. And then there are suitcases to pack!!! (Perish the thought! Can I get everything into 2 suitcases??!!)

Don't worry...there will still be more posts on my blog before I leave! I hope that you have enjoyed, and perhaps learned a little bit, about the Mexican culture from my posts on the blog. I have certainly appreciated your comments and emails encouraging me to keep up the writing and pictures. What will I write about when I get home???

For years I have enjoyed the cards and calendars by an artist named Flavia Weedn. She draws such sweet pictures and always has the perfect saying to accompany her pictures. She said this:

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same."

This sums up my experiences with the Mexican people.

Hasta luego.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico and her saint's day is celebrated on Dec. 12th. Mexican Catholics believe that Guadalupe was a manifestation of the Virgin Mary in the Americas. There is a beautiful story that goes along with this belief.

Every night from Dec. 1-12 people from churches, businesses, civic organizations, hotels and schools walk through the streets of PV toward the cathedral, the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are bands, mariachis, floats, and people walking, holding candles and singing hymns to "Our Lady".

I have been downtown twice, so far, watching the processions. And from what I understand, on Dec. 11th and 12th, all day and through the night, people gather at the church to sing "Las Mananitas", a traditional chant to Mary. There is a very festive atmosphere and people have fun but are also respectful. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time in the centro, and at the church, on those two days. I will write more about the processions and the traditions after the 12th. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these pictures from the processions.






Different tribes of Indians participate in the processions. These two knelt and lit incense and then joined the others in a dance. The headdresses are beautiful.

The processions are on Juarez street and continue for about 1 mile to the church. On all the side streets, there are puestos (stalls) selling food, balloons, Santa hats (!), you name it and they are selling it! These people set up shop on a side street selling food. The blue tank is gas to run the grill. See the coolers on the table on the right? People sit at the table and eat.

Many groups have signs telling who they are or which organization is sponsoring them. This sign says: "Virgen Morena (Dark-skinned Virgin), Your children from the Cuale River Market are grateful for all your blessings. Pray for us!" The Virgin is often called the "Dark-skinned Virgin" or La Morenita or La Virgen Morena.

It is traditional to bring something to the church from the people in the procession. This man carries a basket of fruit. I have seen baskets of flowers, and other foodstuffs being offered. Each group seems to wear some kind of "uniform". This group in red and white, others in green and white, and yet others in all white.

This was a group of students representing some civic organization. The girls played the drums and boys played the trumpets. If you look carefully, you can see the drum that the girl is carrying.

This young girl, portraying Guadalupe, stands among flowers and a painted backdrop. The "Guadalupe girls" keep their eyes downcast and look prayerful. Sometimes Santiago is also with Guadalupe on the float. Santiago was the Mexican boy to whom the Virgin appeared in the year 1531. Other floats may have musicians and/or flowers on them.

Anywhere you find a group of Mexicans having fun, there will be mariachis!! And here they are!

This is the altar at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Another float with "Guadalupe", a musician, and baskets of food offerings.

These ladies from one of the churches carried pictures of Guadalupe and sang hymns as they marched.

This young man is dressed in the costume of Santiago. I have seen little boys wearing this clothing for a week now.

This little girl wears a traditional dress. She is hanging onto her chichirrones (fried pork skins)!!

This is a very interesting time for me in Mexico. Participating in the cultural traditions and learning about them first hand has been very special for me. For years I have read about the celebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Dia de los Muertos, but actually being with the people when they celebrate their heritage is a wonderful experience.

You will hear more about this next week.

Hasta luego.

Random Thoughts and Pictures

Christmas is coming,

The goose is getting fat,

Please to put a penny in the poor man's hat!.......

It seems so strange! I am still wearing shorts and the temperature is in the 80s, but everyone is decorating for Christmas. This tree, sponsored by the Sello Rojo milk company, is in the Parque Hidalgo downtown. Those are little black and white cows with red ribbons around their necks.

Since I live so close to Atlanta, the home of Coca Cola, this tree with its Coke decorations caught my eye in a mall in Guadalajara.

Nacimientos (manger scenes) are in 'most every home in Mexico at this time of the year. You can buy the parts for the manger scenes at any puesto. At this house, the people put up a huge Nacimiento, starting with the Old Testament (Adam, Eve, and an apple tree!) and continuing through the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

The picture above shows Jesus with Joseph and Mary in the carpenter shop.

Daniel in the lion's den is behind the man in the red and blue. Look carefully and you can see the lions.

See the duck swimming in the lake, the angels, and how about that zebra??

This nacimiento was so detailed. I spent about 15 minutes just looking at the details and, of course, taking pictures. The nacimiento was surrounded by the wrought iron fence and they put chicken wire around it to protect it from poking fingers. It made is a little hard to get good pictures.

Sand sculptors work on the beach by the Malecon. This is a pumpkin they did in October. It is all carved from sand.

This is one that is on the beach now. It is hard to believe that it is sand, but I watched a man using a plastic spoon and carving the details.

"Oddessey on Ice", an ice show, was here in PV and Lety and I went to see it. Imagine how hard it must be to keep ice frozen in PV and it was under a tent too! Truth to tell, there was about 1/2 inch of water on top of the ice. Everyone enjoyed it. The clowns were the best!

"My" beautiful mountains that surround PV are still green but now the air is white from pollution---just like at home. During the rainy season, there was no white air. They are still beautiful.

There are lots of public telephones in Mexico. They are on the street corners, not in a phone booth. You buy a prepaid Ladatel phone card and can make local and long-distance calls.

What I have learned from kindergarten....when you sit in a kindergarten chair, your knees come up to your ears.

Yes, you are looking at a Woolworth's store! I think all the Woolworth's are gone from the states but this one is thriving in PV.

Across the street from Woolworth's is the Lan's department store---a very nice store to shop in.

This is the Plaza Marina shopping center. There is a grocery store, laundry, dry cleaners, Internet cafe, restaurants and shops here. It is close to my house and I often shop there.

If ye havn't got a penny,

A ha'penny'll do...

If ye havn't got a ha'penny,

Then God bless you.

Hasta luego.