Christmas in Paraguay!

Hello again!
I have had a lot of people ask me about Paraguayan traditions for Christmas and New Years - and well I am still feeling in the season because in the last two weeks I have got a lot of christmas mail! (Sometimes it takes a little time!) I have been the lucky recipient of some lovely christmas cards and 2 packages from Grandma and Mary and from Camp Stanhope! THANK YOU!
So, since I am still in the Christmas spirit! Let me tell you about Christmas in Paraguay! It acutally isnt that big of a deal! Christmas eve, families have a big dinner at 10 or 11 at night and then after dinner everyone goes out to the disco or a club and they dance til dawn...or after dawn. And then they sleep all day on Christmas! Oh there are lots and lots of fireworks! The kind that used to be illegal in Minnesota! The people that are incharge of setting them off are children between the ages of about 4-20. And adult supervision is not really considered to be necessary! New Years passes almost igual! (or the same!) Bonnie and I spent New Year's Eve in J.A. Saldivar, with my original host family! They were thrilled to see us and to have more people to feed! As always Na Olga cooked up some amazing deliciousness and Don Oscar took care of the grilling (lamb leg, spicy sausages, meat (beef) and also baked chicken) = amazing! Gloria (4), Lorena (9) and Paola (12) showed Bonnie and I how fireworks are supposed to be done! And almost lit bonnie on fire!

The holiday that is a little more like our Christmas is El dia de los Tres Reyes Magos - Three Kings Day! It came on Jan. 6th and is the day when little kids get presents! Like the US, presents range in quantity and quality depending on the family income. There are still fireworks on Three Kings Day - actually any time that you want to celebrate anything - Fireworks are an excellent way to let your neighbors know there is a party!

I have been trying to put up a slide show of photos from Bonnie's and my adventure to Argentina, Uruguay and our 2o minutes in Brazil! It is in the works still! Stay tuned!

Lots of love from the watermelon!