December In Chuburna Puerto

Hi everyone.. we have had a busy month going to the tire shop, fumigating the property, volunteering for the APOYO program, and  taking in all the Christmas festivities. Of course we had to get it all in before the end of the world, on December 21st,  predicted by those interpreting the Mayan Calendar. 

As you read this on December 28 th  you will agree that one should always have an Oreo cookie close by. 

I am volunteering as a Director for the local Apoyo program I have been writing you about. So this month I've been accepting donations to our GUST fund 
( muchas gracias) , helping with jacket distribution (just in time for the cooler weather), meeting some families and  planning our fund-raising Fashion Show in January. It is going to be in our courtyard and has a Carnival theme...The guys dress in black shorts, white shorts and sparkly cumberbunds serving 120 women.  There will be great photos for the next BLOG.  

  LLANTERA repair in Chelem:     

Simple but Effective Signage. 

We had a tire that was losing air.

 Took the tire off and discovered a leak in the side wall.

 Tire off, repaired, replaced all for 50 pesos... less than $5.00. 
I know.. we couldn't believe it either and asked several times to make sure... 

FUMIGATION...for the ants, cockroaches, scorpions...all the critters that live with us in the tropics.. Alex comes by every 3 months...outside and inside to make sure they don't move in. 

CHRISTMAS IS A BUSY TIME... there are many religious ceremonies; traditions and of course, Santa.  

December 8... The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception is the patron of the village.. Her feast  is observed starting with an outdoor Mass at the Port..

The statue of the Virgin is taken out to the ocean with prayers said in recognition of  the main resource for the area, fishing. 

Families make the one hour walk with the statue and banners from the Port to the Chuburna Catholic Church. 

The procession is something to see, kilometers long, mariachi band playing, traditional dancers, many colorful banners, women with umbrellas to provide shade from the sun. 





Occasionally they stop for a dance while fire works explode near by..

A Mariachi band serenades the Virgin as the statue and banners are carried into the church.... The singer had a beautiful voice and the air was full of emotion.  

Antorchistas Guadalupanos

In Mexico, how do you know when the Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe is near? That’s easy. You begin to see groups of individuals and groups, traveling on foot or by bicycle, traveling long distances as part of a promise they made to La Virgen during the year.  The Antorchistas Guadalupanos are on the roads throughout Yucatan all of December. Thankfully, everyone reached their destination without incident. 
                                                                           (from Yucatan Living)

December 12: Day of the  Virgin of Guadalupe:  
Altars to the Virgin are in front of many Chuburna homes; some elaborate and some very humble.

An outside Mass celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe and the return of the Antorchistas. 

Daniel, whose family taught us to make PIBs, and son Kevin participated in the Father/Son Walk with other dads and sons below:

CAROLING.. The children who attend the Free English School, offered by English speaking volunteers, came to the house.. How special to hear them sing carols in English. Needless to say, the FA LA LA LA LA.. was the loudest part of Deck the Halls. 

LAS POSADAS: a 400 year old tradition                                                                                                             
Our friends Minerva and Paulino hosted the Posada.  Posada is Spanish for "lodging" and is celebrated from  December 16 to 24th. The nine days represent Mary's nine months of pregnancy  carrying Jesus.   

Chuburna is divided in to 3 sections... In each section, 3 families agree to participate.  Carrying statues of Mary and Joseph those in the procession walk  to 3 homes singing for "lodging". 

At the first 2 homes the procession is turned away... However, at the 3rd home, Paulino and Minerva's, those behind closed doors initially sing their refusal but eventually open their doors to the procession and accept the statues of Mary and Joseph. 

 

Children have a significant role in this tradition..walking in procession, singing behind closed doors and finally breaking open the pinata and excitedly gathering up the candy.

Christmas Concerts are held outside in the square : Here are the children from the secondaria school... It was fun to see them dance to Christmas songs sung in English and Spanish. 

Rudolf and his reindeer buddies dancing to Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. 

  

. Moving and shaking to Jingle Bell Rock..This Santa could dance. 

DECEMBER 18; a fun evening planned by the local government and featuring local talent, ended with Santa giving out gifts, purchased with funds raised by the expat community. 

CHRISTMAS EVE:   Mary arrives on a burro, accompanied by Joseph followed by a procession bringing the statues of Mary and Joseph back to the church where they will be placed in a manger with a statue of the baby Jesus.  The procession is made up of the children of the village. Candles are lit and midnight mass begins, followed by families and friends sharing a meal in their homes.  

MUCHO FRIO:  It's been colder these past few weeks especially at night 
( 58 degrees) so there is a collection for blankets going on for the elders in the village.  Even Gord and I have the front door closed and the comforter on the bed.   

Winter is here!

Looking forward to our continued friendship in 2013..
Have a 

Feliz Año Nuevo:  Happy New Year

Dorothy and Gord