Traditional Mexican New Year's Eve - Feliz Ano Nuevo - 2009
This is a guest blog by Judy Lambe, a neighbour of George and Kathleen in Lo de Marcos, Mexico. My husband Bob and I along with 3 other couples from our RV Park had the privelege of spending New Year's with my hair dresser Yanette, and her family at her "papa's mountain rancho" which is 25 minutes south of Lo de Marcos. See picture below - Yanette & Alonso
Yanette's parent's live in Lo de Marcos and the rancho is run by hired hands. The casa is a big brick and cement open sided building with running water - cold only. No electricity, but a generater to light up everything . There were decorations, flowers, and balloons everywhere and a whole raft of boom box type speakers.....they do like their musica loud!.
Yanette is 1 of 9 children and all of her family was there including her mom and dad. So I believe there were about 25 kids, a few teenagers and about 30 adults, not counting us. There were hugh pots simmering with stuff everywhere. Fruit with sugar cane in one and 2 kinds of milky drinks. A mammoth vat of corn soup called pazole which you add lime juice, onion, chili, radishes and lettuce to yourself. Another hugh pot of tamales. Our group brought salads, pork roast and smokies but was not a big hit....just not their kind of food.
The kids had lots of pinatas which were fun to watch and they also had a gift exchange. The all stood in line until their name was called and open their gift, each one individually. After each opening the child then hugs the one whose name is called next. They are very patient children!!
There was one game we played where the husband's stood on chairs and the wives had to pass a lemon up one pant leg and down the other. It was hilarious!
At 11:45 the generator was turned off so we were in the pitch dark! The sky and the mountains all around us were beautiful and everything was peaceful and serene. Then a couple of children quietly lit candles and stuck them in the ground. At midnight the fireworks started and they were fabulous. When they were finished the hugs and kisses started and they were genuinely pleased we were there.
Once again, we have had the warm experience of a Mexican tradition and how family comes first. Their hospitality is impecable!
