How to Adopt 3 Latin American Holiday Traditions
Hold on to those radishes from your meal prepping and dig out your old roller skates.
Every region has their own traditions to accompany weather changes, religious holidays, and the overall bright sentiment that comes with the end of the year. Here in the US, I’m quite used to the traditional, yet tame red and green, jingle bells, Coca-Cola Santa Claus-type of Christmas celebrations. It’s comforting and it’s what I’m used to, but exploring other traditions is always on my mind.
As it turns out, other cultures have mastered the art of re-purposing root vegetables as decor and skating (yes, skating) to celebrate Navideña (Christmas). What fun! Here’s how you can adopt these 3 traditions into your holiday activities and give appreciation to these cultures.
Noche de Los Rábanos (“ The Night of the Radishes”)
In the city of Oaxaca, México, there is an event held every year where people gather to the celebrate the holidays by… you guessed it, carving radishes. This is such a part of Oaxaca culture, the city has chosen to dedicate land for the growth of the radishes and oversees how and whom it gets distributed to. In 2014, twelve tons of radishes were harvested for the event that year!
When the celebration is held on December 23, you’ll find the vegetable carved into intricate and elaborate creations such as the nativity scene, religious icons, landmarks, castles, temples, animals, Aztec imagery, fantasy elements, and life-size sculptures!
Like most Mexican celebrations, food and music is always a part of the fun.
How to do it: Your everyday radishes won’t be as beefy as Oaxaca’s (they’re made for size and not human consumption) but if you can find them at your local grocer, invite some friends over for a carving party! Be creative with what shapes you create: maybe the iron throne or an edible fidget spinner. Put on some music and have fun, Oaxaca-style.
When you’re done, you can use scraps for tortilla soup or a crunchy salad.
Las Patinatas
Over in Venezuela, celebrating the holidays means strapping on skates, or anything on wheels, and heading to the plaza for a party filled with food, music, and carols.
The tradition comes from the 1950s when streets were closed for the enjoyment of families, particularly children with newly gifted bicycles, roller skates, and skateboards. Usually, this occurred after attending Mass during the day, so doing this gave a perfect way to congregate and let loose.
How to do it: It’s probably not a good idea to skate around if you live in a frosty climate, but it’s still perfectly acceptable to find an ice rink and skate the night away. If you have the pleasure of living in a snow-less region, grab your friends and kids and make your way to a plaza (that allows skating). Set up a radio and skate to some tunes! Bonus points if there’s a food truck nearby that serves Venezuelan fare, like arepas or plátanos. You can even attempt to prepare it at home and bring it for a picnic.
Año Viejo (New Year’s Eve)
Although technically not related to Christmas, this Puerto Rican tradition is a must for the coming of the New Year. Before the New Year, it’s customary to clean the house thoroughly, even getting rid of old, cluttered belongings. Having a clean and clutter-free home whilst bringing in the New Year will keep it in the same condition for the rest of the year.
How to do it: This is the perfect time to apply what you’ve learned from that minimalism documentary on Netflix. Don’t tackle too much at once and be sure to give yourself adequate time to evaluate what in your home brings you joy. Minimalists say it’s best not to try and sell your items, as that avoids the idea of truly leaving your things. Instead, throw your used or super personal items away. Items that are purposeful can be donated or given away.
Out with the old and in with the new!
Both Oaxaca and Puerto Rico is facing a period of rebuilding after a series of catastrophic natural disasters. You can donate here to aid in their relief and help families acquire food and basic necessities so that they can have a better holiday season.
If you enjoyed this piece, please click the 👏 button and share to help others find it! Feel free to leave a comment below.
Pursue and discover new passions at PassionDig.com.
PassionDig.com
Facebook @passiondig
Instagram @passiondig
Twitter @passiondigger
