NAVIDAD = Christmas. We
spent our last two Christmases in England and they were the best we’ve had in
the past twelve years. Christmas isn’t the same without family, especially our
grandchildren.
The Tenerife shops display decorations, gifts, and cards - the usual commercial glitz that you see in England - and we've got used to seeing them against the background of sunshine. Wearing thin summer clothes, we push our trolley between aisles loaded with festive food.
Some families buy a leg of Jamon which sits in the kitchen for weeks covered only by a tea-cloth, to have slivers cut off for tapas or sandwiches. You can buy a leg for 30 euros but the best ones (with black hooves) can set you back 130 euros.
Then there's Turron = a sweet sold in slabs mainly at Christmas. Most varieties contain almonds, and it can be hard like crunchy toffee or soft like nougat. If you want traditional English food
there are shops and restaurants that cater for that too, and people book early
to have their Christmas dinner with entertainment in the sun.
The locals have their
traditional family meal late on NOCHE BUENA – literally, GOOD NIGHT – which is
Christmas Eve, and we’ve been lucky enough to be invited to a few homes. We
have had Italian – strange to be eating pasta on Christmas Eve! – and twice we
joined a family of good friends for their dinner of traditional Venezuelan
food.
NATIVITY PLAY
One year my mother was
here, and she and I went to the nearest church for Midnight Mass.
The churches here are
lovely. Some are centuries old and dark, with the scent of candles, flowers,
fabric and ancient prayers. Others, particularly in the south of Tenerife, are
newer and brighter.
The doors of the church
we attended were left open to the air of Noche Buena, and children ran in and
out. Their mothers and grandmothers were inside the church, praying on behalf
of the whole family, one assumes, but the fathers stayed in the square drinking
beer - except when the Nativity Play was performed, when they buzzed around the
church like paparazzi. One memory I treasure is of a girl who played the Virgin
Mary. Her portrayal of a heavily pregnant woman was so realistic that the
entire congregation was in hysterics.
NIGERIANS
Last December, just
before we flew off to England, we were attracted to our village Cultural Centre
by the sound of music. We found open-sided marquees full of Nigerians
celebrating a national festival. Every single person was dressed in their best,
in every imaginable colour and pattern, and the women in the most elaborate
head-gear. I stopped a toddler from straying onto the road and found his mother
– she bowed low several times with clasped hands to thank me. We wanted to stay
and asked one man where we could buy a beer – he gave us four cans from his
table and said, “It’s all free.” We had a wonderful time and the dancing was
great. The next morning there was no sign that anything had happened – no
marquees, not a scrap of litter – only our aching feet told us it hadn’t all
been a dream.
NOVEL
An
agent asked for the whole manuscript of one of my novels a month ago. If she
doesn’t get back to me soon with a decision I shall have NIBBLED my NAILS to
NOTHING.
Excellent N post, I would love to spend Christmas with my son in Spain but our airport don't fly to Malaga during the winter months, A three hour train ride do put me off.I usually spend Christmas with my daughter but just once would like to spend it with my son.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
The description of Navidad was absolutely beautiful. Christmas in another country is a new experience. I know what you mean about missing your family.
ReplyDeleteNigeria must have been quite an interesting place!
I love hearing about traditional Christmases around the world. There are so many different ways to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteI love turron. My spanish friend often send me some. I did buy some in Sainsburys a few years ago but they seem to have stopped selling it now.
ReplyDeleteAw, I love the picture of the outside tree with the ornaments on it. I've never thought of doing that before! Awesome post and happy A-Z blogging!
ReplyDeletekeeping my fingers crossed you hear back about your manuscript soon, Liz. Can't wait til I get to the point I'm sending mine off to agents and such.
ReplyDeleteLove your picture of the decorated tree.
Well Liz I have been away from my laptop for 3 days so I had 3 of your daily blogs to read. I loved the Navidad bit - we have spent many Xmas's here.
ReplyDeleteAs for the medical bits your stories were graphic & do not encourage anyone to be poorly. Whilst I remain mobile I travel back to the UK regularly for treatment at my local hospital.
I do hope your wrist eases quickly.
I thought 'the ghost' was where you circled but one needed a vivid imagination to even think about what one might be seeing.
It would be so tough to be away from your family during the holidays and especially Christmas. Just stopping by to say hi on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and y our kind comment (and for becoming a follower :)
ReplyDeleteI had to look up where Tenerife was, geography wasn't my strong suit in school;I'm sure life there is interesting! That Nativity Play sure did seem interesting :)
looking forward to reading more of your posts in the days ahead :)
betty