Feliz Navidad, prospero año... oh wait, thats a Mexican song!

I hear that a LOT of snow has fallen this week. Here, on the other hand, I'm struck by the strange juxtaposition of tank tops, flip-flops and christmas trees. It doesn't quite feel right to me, which has made me reflect on what some US citizens (and residents) must feel when they hear/see stories about white christmases.



Here, you can see a lot of continuities with US-style Christmas celebration, which is to say that global marketing does indeed seem to impact rituals more than nationality at this point in human history. Most of the stores downtown a running sales, encouraging shoppers to buy STUFF for their loved ones (at rather high interest rates), and everyone has at least one PAPA NOEL or Christmas tree in the window. Outside of the commercial district, there are random spatterings of christmas lights on some houses and a number of small christmas trees in the neighbor's windows. As I talk about chrismas trees here, let me make clear that I haven't seen one higher than three feet. And as far as lights go, we're not talking about my uncle's 50,000 light Clark Griswold creation, but rather a few strings of multicolored lights to circle windows.



The city has put up a number of decorations to make the season. Large white-light stars and strings of light arranged in cones can be seen lining the streets and plazas of the city. Seeing them certainly evokes a similar vision of the cities that we've lived in the States, as does the Christmas tree-like light image on the side of the Provincial Governor's offices.



Also like in the States, a majority of official correspondence avoids references to the Jesus part of Christmas and refers instead to the party. "Felices fiestas" proclaim all of the store's windows and newspaper ads. The national newspaper, Clarin, has been publishing children's stories and published stories about Papa Noel and the Reindeer before arriving at the last one, the birth of Jesus, which should arrive this Sunday. Of course, the fact that the Jesus story is coming out with a mainstream paper is probably something we would NEVER see in the states, but the trends in secular celebration are striking.



Angela and I will be celebrating this Christmas in a pretty conventional way. This week Angela is helping put the Christmas program together with the kiddos in the barrio: basic christmas story with shepherds, kings, a small child playing an angel and the youngest newborn playing the part of Jesus. Along with the nativity celebration on Saturday night, we'll also celebrate the end of the school year, the birthdays of all of the kids that come to the after-school program, and a host of other events. Should be a VERY joyous event. Christmas day will be spent with our host family, probably involving some AMAZING food.

Something to think about...

I think that most Christmas media pokes fun at California for not having snow on Christmas, ever (I'm thinking specifically about Woody Allen here), but what about those vast expanses of the US Southwest and Southeast (and Carribean?) that see snow once every decade, and never on Christmas? Do they WANT a white christmas? Does the temperature change we way we experience the holiday (obviously the trappings and specific rituals, but does a warm climate facilitate a sense of openness and welcoming better than a cold one, or is it the opposite)?

The holidays are a time to see people that you love, to share the peace of company and the compassion of solidarity. We miss those of you who are reading this more than you can know, but we are also excited that we have this time together and that we're able to participate in celebration with our friends here.

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!