Ellen from Sister Parish visited Chichipate this week, took these photos and brought the following letter for us all. The photos are of Modesta's family, a woman participating in the purse project. They have three generations living together. It's so great to see these photos and receive news so quickly after Ellen's visit!
If you wish to try some tamales this month and think of our brothers and sisters in Chichipate, Feast bakery and coffee shop across from Templeton school sells them in both fresh and frozen versions. Enjoy!
December 7, 2010
Dear brothers and sisters from St. Thomas Church,
We send you many greetings and blessings during this Advent season and thank you for your letter. We enjoyed hearing about the traditions of your Church.
This year the Advent and Christmas celebration is being organized by the youth of our congregation. In Chichipate we celebrate Advent with “Posadas” or resting places, for Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. The Posadas start on December 16th and visit nine different houses, before ending at the church on Christmas Eve. The Posada is like a procession and is accompanied by singing of Christmas songs, fireworks and many people. It goes into one each night and the people accompanying the Posada are served a hot beverage and sing carols and pray.
The youth are selling tamales and other things to raise money to buy the decorations for the Posadas and for the church. They will also buy a Christmas tree and lights. After Christmas Mass on the 24th, there will be a cultural show put on by the youth, coffee and, of course, tamales. The SP committee and the Church committee will make hundreds of tamales for this celebration. Mass usually lasts from 7 to 10 pm, the show until 12 or 1 am and then people go home to continue the celebration with more coffee or hot chocolate, tamales or other special foods like turkey or pork.
In Martin’s house, the whole family gathers after Mass to share tamales. Sometimes they sleep on Christmas Eve and sometimes they stay up all night.
At Teresa’s house they burn Mayan incense called Copalpom to give thanks to God. They give each person in the family a candle to symbolize the light of the new Baby Jesus for the world. They eat tamales or sometimes meat and drink hot chocolate.
There are some people that spend the whole night at the church praying and setting off fireworks.
Many blessings and peace
May you have a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
Chichipate Sister Parish Committee.
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