December Celebrations & Family Traditions

December Celebrations & Traditions
Everyone has a reason 
To celebrate the season
If you don't have a season
Let's find the reason

Family traditions with music and food around a table, build memories for years to come. What traditions do you have for the Season? 

Any way is all right 

It is part of your life
If you don’t have a season 
It’s time to find the reason

When I was a child, one of the most observed traditional holidays in Colombia, during December, was the Little Candles’ Day ((Día de las Velitas). It is celebrated on the eve of the Immaculate Conception. On December 7th, people place candles and paper lanterns on windowsills, balconies, sidewalks, everywhere they can be seen, in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. Today, far from home, I keep and share this tradition.

Duncan Family 2017

As an adult, I have the opportunity to meet new people and celebrate new traditions. I adopted the devotion to celebrate “La Purisima”. It is a nine days of prayers and songs before December 8^th in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. The last day of the Novena, families and friends gather together to sing, share goodies, and even have some fireworks. It’s similar to my native devotion, but different in details.

Goddies for "La Purisima"

Gathering with families and friends
Sharing food, gifts, joy 
Any way is all right 
It is part of your life 
If you don’t have a season 
It’s time to find the reason

As a teacher, I’ve learned different traditions around the world while doing projects with the students. The similarities and differences between traditions make them special, but there is a common purpose: Gather families and friends together around a table.

Let’s revive traditions

Let’s enjoy them all

Any way is all right

It is part of your life 

If you don’t have a season 

It’s time to find the reason

Enjoy with love traditions and the Spirit of the Season!

If you don’t have a season…It’s time to find the reason!

Any Candle 🕯️ you light this Season, May bring you insight and joy 

Merry Christmas- Happy Hanukkah- Joyous Kwanzaa

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Website:www.luzdelmes.com

Recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006, VCB Poetry Winner 2015, Author’s Talk Book Award 2016, The Latino Book Awards 2016 and Author’s Talk Book Show 2017.