Here in Costa Rica it is extremely important that each family have their portal displayed during the Christmas holiday period. The portal is merely the manger scene depicting Jesus in the manger shortly after his birth surrounded by the animals, his parents and the three wise men.
These displays can be seen on front porches (garages) and/or in their living rooms near the traditional festively decorated tree. They are normally set up at the begining of December and then taken down and tossed away or stored away after the first of the year but only after praying the rosary. It is customary that the replica of the baby Jesus is placed in the manger at midnight on the 24th. Which leads me to another interesting custom.
Eating!! The families get together Christmas Eve night and socialize and eat and talk and eat and dance and eat and sing and eat.........you get the picture. Then after midnight they sit down to eat again. They enjoy various typical local dishes. Tamales, marinated beef and the cherished pork leg. This savory main course is cooked in the oven or outside over coals.
Least we not forget the rompope. They make the tasty little drink and add Ron(rum). The times that I have partaken of their mixture I always say, "So you like a little eggnog with your rum I see". I have learned to say that after the first sip otherwise later my speech is so slurred that even I can't understand what I think I said.
I have gotten off the path that motivated me to write this post. The PORTAL. This is the real symbol that properly depicts the reason for the season. Unfortunately, due to the commercialization and the politically correct crowd in Estados Unidos this concrete fact has been buried! For me it's like taking the birth out of birthday. Then you have just another day. Another ho hum day just like yesterday and probably just like tomorrow will be.
So lets raise a glass of rompope and toast to the real reason, the Birthday of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment