The xmas eve mole dinner was delicious. I think it was the best I’ve had. Unfortunately the preparation of it attracted every bee in the neighborhood into our house, and I had to perform the ritual xmas eve bee slaughter. They were cooperative enough. They came in, landed on the windows, I would wack one with a newspaper and go onto the next one. We closed the balcony doors, but soon realized that they were coming under the door. It all worked out and no one got stung, but it did get a little too warm and stuffy in the house with the doors closed.
To continue from the previous post. Santa seems to have come AFTER I fell asleep to the what sounded like artillery fire off the balcony. I woke at 4 am or so to the baby swinging song being sung over and over in a nearby house. It was beautiful, accompanied by fiddle, base and guitar. I fell back to sleep, and woke again at 6 when Mikko woke up looking for signs of Santa. That sneaky fellow seems to have come during one of my brief episodes of sleep.
We had a lovely xmas morning. The grandparents came over around 9 and we opened the heaps of presents, which was fun and fruitful. As you might imagine, it was a lucha rich xmas. Mikko and I both got eachother Lucha rings and guys. We ended up trading rings because the one he got me was bigger and more utilitarian and the one I got him was smaller and more decorative.
We had a delicious eggs and bacon breakfast and then just hung out.
At around 3 pm Anna, our land lady and her friend Annie, came by and picked me up to go for a horseback ride on the ranch before the big xmas cena. We were all invited to come to the ranch, for tamales, pozole, ponche and baby swinging, but it turned out that everyone else in my family was too tired and stayed in town. So I was the sole Portland/Sequim representative out there.
This is Dulcinea, the sweet horse I rode.
The ranch from the top of the hill.
We rode for about an hour, maybe less, down to a river bed, with a bit of river running through and had some iced coffee. A goat herd came by just as we got there with a fellow on a donkey herding them.
I sure love goats.
My legs were super sore, having not ridden for more than a few minutes in close to 30 years!!! But after our little rest and chat at the river I was fine.
Dulcinea, the horse I was riding was super sweet and perky and responsive to my will. We even cantered a bit. We headed back as the sun was setting and got back just in time for the odd uncertain waiting time that seems to accompany most functions here in Mexico. Dinner was delicious, and then it was time to swing the baby.
Some of you may wonder what it is I speak of when I say swing the baby. Well, in every nativity, which is in most every house, there is of course, at least one baby Jesus.
Each baby Jesus has a set of godparents who are responsible for clothing and caring for the baby for the next three years. During this period of Christmas families and friends gather to rock the baby in a pretty cloth. That is the godparents’ job. Everyone else gathers around with candles and sparklers, throwing confetti and streamers and singing a very pretty song that goes for a very long time. I didn’t catch all the words, but the jist is that the baby has come to earth as our salvation and we love him and he loves us and stuff like that. After the song, the godfather takes the baby around and everyone kisses his little head. Last night there were three babies to swing. They each got a new outfit put on them by their godparents, then they were taken outside in their little swings and we started singing.
I’m getting a face full of confetti at the end of this video.
After we each kiss the baby the godmother comes around and gives everyone a little goody bag snacks and/or candy.
And then it is time for the piñata.
The piñata is made of clay, so my big concern was that an innocent, blindfolded child would get knocked out by the piñata, but everything unfolded with no injuries.
At about midnight, the three of us squeezed back into Anna’s little two seater porche and headed back into town. I shook as much confetti as I could out of my hair and crawled into bed. (I did find one last piece of confetti in my belly button as I drifted off to sleep.)
Wow - didn’t know about the swinging the baby thing. So cool - I’d get into that. I’m enjoying reading your experiences of the religious traditions that we have so commercialized. The seem so much more clear and true - I’d ALMOST start bein’ a believer if I was down there with you. Or at least I could fake it real good!
I’m loving this blog. I am really not much of a blogger– but my son’s father (who lives in Portland) told me about this one because he knows my love for Mexico and authentic reflections about Mexican culture runs deep. I was so interested in the baby swinging thing. I studied in Mexico in the early 80’s. Mostly, language and some anthropology. The director of our program was an experienced anthropologist and she had us focuing on the Cargo System. From what I can remember about the cargo system– this baby swinging thing sounds vaguely familiar to me– especially the part about the padrinos taking care of the baby. I love your description of the event from the awkward moments leading up to the event to your desciption of the song. You must be an “organic” or natural anthropologist!
Your narrative is so real, conversational and interesting. Thanks for sharing it with a wider audience! And the pictures are GREAT.