Mirtha Guerra
News Editor
Christmas is a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, which takes place on December 25. Billions of people around the world celebrate Christmas in different ways. Those who are particularly non-religious celebrate Christmas with non-Christian elements such as Santa Claus, snowmen, elves, reindeer, and Christmas trees.
Those who celebrate the sacred origins of Christmas usually attend mass or worship services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. They open presents and have dinners of various foods – turkey, duck, ham, or beef roasts are common.
In Latin America, Christmas is celebrated from December 11 to January 6th. There are nine days leading to Christmas Eve known as “Las Posadas” which symbolize the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Christmas is celebrated on the eve where dinner and gifts take place before midnight.
On January 6th, families celebrate the day of the Three Wise Men or Epiphany. They may buy a ring shaped fruit pastry accompanied with some champurrado, a chocolate-flavored beverage made with tamale dough, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Each person receives a piece and if his or her piece has a tiny plastic baby figure, it means that have to prepare a meal on February 2nd which is Candlemas,
the day of the presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary. Regardless of the religious or non-religious connotations, Christmas is meant to be a time that brings families together to create memories.
Mirtha Guerra can be contacted at guerram28@student.morainevalley.edu
