Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmastime is here!

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to see what the Christmas season is like in Berlín. Obviously, it’s a lot different than Iowa. There’s no snow and it’s not nearly as cold. You don’t hear the usual Christmas songs or bake Christmas cookies. But there are Christmas decorations and lights. Various businesses and people in Berlín can “buy” a small part of the town square to decorate and advertise. There are lights, bulbs, snowman, Christmas trees, and a nativity was set up in the middle of the town square.

Even Santa Claus made an appearance. Of course, I should clarify this statement. It was a skinny, Salvadoran Santa with a somewhat scraggly beard. Also, he was an FMLN Santa, a political Santa. He came riding into town on a cart pulled by some sort of motorcycle. The cart was covered with FMLN flags and posters of Don Lito, who is the FMLN candidate for mayor next year. I guess I never knew how political Santa was.

The same night we saw Santa we went into town to the square to watch them light up all the Christmas lights for the first time. We waited for what seemed like forever, listening to people from City Hall talk endlessly about something. Finally, they turned off the main lights in the town square and turned on the Christmas lights. They were beautiful! We walked around looking at all the different lights. Then they set off fireworks. We stayed and watched for quite some time. It wasn’t Iowa, but it certainly felt like Christmas.


Setting up the nativity


Merry Christmas


Pedro's bush


Snowman without the snow


Christmas bulbs


Styrofoam nativity- love it!


Christmas tree put up by the
physical therapy foundation


Another nativity


It feels like Christmas


Ding dong!


It's Santa Claus!


FMLN Santa


He's looking skinny


Me and Santa


Santa's clowns?


Ho ho ho


I guess Santa supports Don Lito


New sign in town


The nativity


Driving into the town square


One of my second grade students


Gathered around to see Santa


All lit up


Blanca sitting by a tree


Fireworks


Yay!


My favorite


I love all the lights


Lots of people


So beautiful


Not quite a pine tree


Christmastime is here


Pedro's tree


Walking around


Feliz Navidad


One of my favorite trees


Up by the nativity


The huge pine tree


1 comment:

Matt said...

All the lights and decorations are so beautiful. I'm so glad you got to be there to see all of that. It is a little odd without any snow. Then again, we didn't have any snow this year either.