ESPAÑOL
Today the air smells to fireworks. Several times I see them go up in the air and with a great bang remember us what we already know. Tonight is Christmas.
The neighbor’s kids are already celebrating the novena, since in the middle of the noise from the tambourines and the maracas, you can hear the Christmas carols.
The house smells to food. Pork, beef, and chicken. Salad and fruit aspic. The plum sauce that’s always there, and the other sauce that is never the same. Almond rice. All cooking in the kitchen. Their steam reminding us that at midnight we will be full. Everything except the dessert, which is already made, but despite everything else that made us full, we still will have some.
The little ones run near the tree. They are playing, but deep down, that is their job. They are a special command, which patrols the borders of the gifts. Preventing someone else from spying on the cards, or stealing one of the gifts. You never know with the big ones, they are so naughty.
For the big ones the party starts after midnight, when the children are exhausted from their hard intelligence and defense work, and start feeling sleepy. Other children, with more energy, will likely play real games, those that aren’t their job; that is trying their brand new gifts.
By midnight, the big ones are also exhausted by looking after the children, since they never noticed the kids were only doing their jobs. However, they’ll keep moving until later, driven by the fuel of whiskey, champagne and rum. They also will move out of necessity. Because with the Caribbean dancing beats the food will come down, stoping them from feeling full. Moreover, there’s still booze to drink.
This is Christmas in Colombia, and although I’m not there this year, to everyone there, here, and everywhere else, I wish you the happiest of Christmas, with friends, family and many gifts. Gifts like love, peace, friendship, welfare, health and everything to bring you happiness!
Finally, I just want to share with you some Christmas spirit that I saw recently. Notice how smiling to the camera is more important than the green traffic light. Tonight is Christmas!
The Christmas Cab
