"Sometimes adventure calls and we ignore it. We miss the opportunity for a lifetime of memories. Go ahead, be adventurous" ~Maria Villanueva

December 10, 2010

Christmas Traditions

I can tell people in blogland are just busy during this Holiday season. Specially crafters....cutting, assembling, gluing, sewing, pasting....OMGoodness! I'm already overwhelmed.

I am one of those crafters...my hands and hair are multi-colored, my fingers have been burned time and again from the hot glue gun, there is white glue on my eyelashes (don't ask how), and Christmas glitter all over me and my craft room. I don't know how I'm going to explain new "wearable" glitter, paint and glue when I see my friends in a couple of hours. Actually, I probably won't have to explain anything, they'll just give me that "you've been crafting" look. If I had a penny for each time I get that look, I'd be a rich young lady by now.

My blog friend Elizabeth from Twelve Crafts 'Till Christmas is having a fun linky where we share our family traditions. Also, Beverly at How Sweet The Sound is hosting a linky where we share our favorite Christmas movie for Pink Saturday linky party.

A movie we love to see around this time is a movie with Tom Hanks called The Polar Express.

This movie is about a young boy who experiences the Holiday Spirit and in the process you feel fully engaged in his adventures.
Every year during December, we read a lot of Christmas stories but our most favorite story is a story called The Gift of the Magi.  This story is about love and kindness and giving all that you have to make someone else happy.


We also keep our Mexican traditions so that my boys can experience them and grow up with them.  One of these traditions is attending a "Posada" Posada meaning "shelter".  A Posada is a reenacment of  the night when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay during their travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  It was very difficult for them to find shelter.  There is a lot of singing during the Posada, it's kind of like a "theatrical" party like a Broadway show where the story is told through music and singing.  You get to "act" and participate in the show.  The Posada ends in a huge party with everyone celebrating the birth of Jesus.  The Posada is always celebrated late in the night and there is always Mexican food, hot drinks, candy and a lot of happy people.  This brings me to another tradition, Mexican food!!! although we live in Los Angeles, where there's plenty of Mexican restaurants, we don't eat Mexican food often.  That is, authentic Mexcan food.  During December, we eat things like; tamales, menudo, posole, capirotada....etc.  These are all authentic Mexican dishes.  Below are some examples of what happens in a Posada:



Another tradition we enjoy as a family is Christmas caroling....karaoke style.  My family loves to sing and we take every opportunity to do so.  Christmas music is so fun and festive and once the microphones are out, you can be sure everyone will have a great time.




now it's your turn, join in on the fun with Beverly and Elizabeth at the links below:

How Sweet The Sound 

Twelve Crafts 'Till Christmas

Have a Great weekend everyone, keep on crafting!

29 comments:

  1. Yep you are correct we are all going a litty hay wire these days. My hands have cuts all over them, and all my nails broke..oh well. I love that you keep your Mexican traditions, really neat!

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  2. I loved the Polar Express! I loved hearing about the "Posada" tradition... Have a great weekend Maria.

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  3. I enjoyed reading your traditions Maria! I remember hearing about Posadas when I was growing up.

    Too funny with the glue on your eye lashes! I hope the recipient of that gift will be appreciative of your efforts :)

    betty

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  4. I'm thinging bubblegum and duct tape will make good stocking stuffers this year - thanks for the idea!

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  5. We used to love the posada coming out of Our Lady of Guadalupe church in La Habra. There's several up here in Half Moon Bay, and we're hoping to get to one this year.
    Maria

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  6. Great post. I am off my little blog break. I hope I didnt miss too much here. The posada tradition sounds so very neat and like something that would be good for everyone. I dont think I have read that book, i am going to get it. Hope all is well in LA. Hugs from GA, Kim

    PS did I giggle of your crafty self description in paragraph one..yes i did :)

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  7. great post!
    i'm covered with glitter and little dabs of paint too!
    i have two articles of clothing that are glitter free, lol!
    ohhh we love the polar express..:)
    used to go to the posadas with my mom when i was a little girl..i can still taste that cocoa!have a great night.

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  8. We like The Polar Express too. The Posada sounds like a wonderful tradition.

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  9. Happy Pink Saturday! God Bless you and keep you safe ....slow down and enjoy the season...don't forget it is Jesus who shine the brightest for us all...lovely post

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  10. Yes indeed, glitter will give you away every time. Looks like you have been busy.

    Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies too.

    Great post Maria
    God Bless You

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  11. Oh I would love to know a Posada! seems fun!
    I have to see that movie, yes it's carzy but I never saw it! And I haven't read the book either!
    Happy Season for you and your family!

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  12. I love Posadas! We used to go in McAllen - our church would have one. And what would Christmas Eve be without tamales?! Hope you had a fun time with your friends. Feliz Navidad, Maria. :) Nancy

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  13. Sounds like fun Maria!.. And I LOVE The Polar Express too! I BELIEVE!!... Have a great weekend! ~tina

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  14. Hi Maria and it's so nice to meet you! I'm sure the recipients of your crafts will be thrilled. How wonderful to hear of your favorite movies and that you keep up with your heritage traditions! I love to go caroling and our church usually does this each year.
    Thanks for popping in to see me and I hope you'll come back sometimes.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  15. I think it's great the way you're keeping the traditions of your family alive. Those will mean more to your children than anything else you could give them for Christmas.

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  16. I love Polar Express to and it was fun hearing how your family gets into the holiday spirit. Happy Pink Saturday.

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  17. I would love to see a pick of your wearable glitter and white glue eyelashes!

    I love the cultural traditions! All the food sounds fabulous too! Thanks so much for passing this on Maria

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  18. You chose some great movies too! I have seen a nice variety. I can honestly say I do not think I have seen a Christmas movie that I don't like! We own a lot of great ones, music too! Thanks for visiting me. I love your traditions. They are such a wonderful part of our lives. Thank you. Anne

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  19. Beautiful and very interesting post!!!
    Have a nice weekend.

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  20. You are in the hurried Christmas season we are all in - it's normal.

    The movies looked good and all your traditions are so interesting.

    Merry Christmas early.
    sandie

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  21. Wow, caroling! I LOVE the Polar Express. The year it came out my husband took me to see it during the week, and we were so lucky! We were the only ones in the theater! It was such fun.
    Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
    Christmas bracelet giveaway

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  22. Wonderful post and movie pick! The Posada sounds like a wonderful tradition, thank you for sharing it!

    Hugs'
    Catlyn

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  23. Maria, it sounds like you and your family have embraced Christmas with your whole heart and soul. I really enjoyed reading about your activities. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and enjoying Pink Saturday. Blessings...Mary

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  24. WELL MARIA! I just happened to see my old post and saw that you visited. I just posted another one yesterday and would have missed you had I not checked the other post. YOU ARE FROM L.A.? I was born there! Now in Minnesota, digging out of all this snow!

    Thank you for your lovely comments and do come back....ohhhh, Christmas traditions are wonderful! Mine is making tamales with my whole family!

    Anita

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  25. Wonderful post! love the movie pics and the traditions.

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  26. HPs to you.. I did saw this movie a few times. Great choice. I have the story the Gift of the Magi. I never read it. Maybe I will this week. Thanks for showing you pink and movies. I'll be back.
    Nancy

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  27. Oh my Goodnes Sweetie, you are in my home town !!!! How cool is that!!!
    Loved your note yesterday and sorry for the late reply. We were away at church happenings to day for our church and our G~Daughters too.
    Big Hugs for an old Cali girl in Iowa, its beautiful here but~~~...
    I Love LA !!!

    PS::Born and raised there for 21 years..

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  28. Hi Maria, Happy way late Pink Saturday. I really enjoyed reading about your traditions. We spent Christmas at Disney World two years ago and learned so much about the traditions of other countries. It was a real treat. xoxo Lynn

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