Christmas Eve at Home

Although my parents were born in Mexico, we don't practice many Mexican traditions. I never heard of Cinco de Mayo celebrations until I was in college; same for Day of the Dead and Three Kings on Jan 6. But there are a few things that I can always count on. There's always Mexican food at home, there are always Mexican remedies, always tamales on Christmas Eve and bunuelos (elephant ears) with Mexican hot chocolate on New Year's Day.

And so we gathered together around the table for the day long tamales preparation. The four women of the family. Constant as the bowl that holds the masa (cornmeal) and the pot that steams the tamales. Around us the family expands and contracts with births, deaths, divorces and marriages. But in our little circle, we may be older, perhaps a bit more wrinkled, but the love and laughs we share are familiar. Often joined by nieces who are getting old enough to learn this tradition. It's not just about the meal, it's the time we spend together.

Our queen bee sorting through corn husks

Spreading cornmeal onto the corn husks

As we laugh and talk, talk, talk

Filling with meat and hot sauce

See them all lined up waiting for their turn on the stove

And then we eat...

And keep spreading, and filling, and cooking

...and eating

The four

The queen bee decided to make us matching aprons this year

I'm the one with the chunky cheeks in the red sweater

My familia

Merry Christmas