So this is Christmas

By Alisha

Our first Christmas in Peru has come and gone without some of the usual fanfare that we are accustomed to in the States. It was my first Christmas without snow, Christmas music and decorations were sparse, and gift giving wasn't a focus. Micah and I traveled to Lima and spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day with our host-family from training. All of the celebrating happens at midnight of the 25th and includes dinner, gift giving, and fireworks. Also very popular is hot chocolate and panetón (a sweet bread with dried fruits) at midnight. Our host brothers and sisters were pretty excited for midnight and probably asked what time it was every fifteen minutes until it was time to celebrate. Once the clock struck midnight we were simultaneously opening gifts, shooting off fire works, and eating a meal of duck, chicken, panetón, and, of course, potatoes. The kids went nuts at this point and stayed up until past 4am playing with their new toys. Micah and I were pretty tired from our bus ride and went to bed "early" at around 2am. Somehow the kids were up again at 6am playing and continuing to go nuts with their toys. We had a great time celebrating with the family. We are now gearing up for the New Year's celebrations in Chota.

Extreme excitment and anticipation!

The three youngest in their new outfits.
The much celebrated panetón
All good things must come to an end/coming down from a sugar high

I had to also include the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs. Happy Holidays!

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over