Finding Joy in Traditions Amidst Painful Memories

Bing AI

Hello dear and appreciated reader, welcome to another entry of my blog.

Today I will be answering the question of when my festive December begins.

This is a topic that in past years I could have answered in a very extensive and joyful way, but currently, I do not celebrate the month of December because it really does not bring back good memories.

Mainly, I have to say that during these dates it is very painful for me because my relatives passed away in different years but just around these dates.

So, for me, December is a reminder of Christmases without them, without my dear mother, without my father, and without my best friend.Therefore, it is very bitter for me to spend every month, every year of this December without having them close.

I know that many will tell me, as they have, to remember the beautiful moments of their lives, and yes, I do remember them that way, but it is still very painful to have to see other people with their loved ones, with all the joy, and knowing that the people I love most in this world are not physically with me.

I need them not ONLY spiritually; I want to have them here with me, to hug them, laugh with them, and talk to them. It's not a consolation for me when they say that they are with me spiritually because, spiritually, I can't eat a "hallaca"(traditional Christmas dish from my country, it is like a dough filled with pork, chicken, beef, with different condiments and dressings, wrapped in a banana leaf.) with them, I can't feed them or hug them.

Bing AI

That's precisely what I need.

But apart from those feelings that hurt me during these dates, I can say that my festive season is throughout the year, not just in this season.

During this season, I celebrate with the typical food of the country, which consists of ham bread, typical sweets that I like a lot such as "dulce de leche"", which is like white chocolate, so to speak, but it is very typical and native here in Venezuela, and also with black cake, which is a cake with little fruits and is very tasty, chocolate-based, a delight.

Additionally, we have the typical dish which is "hallaca" with ham bread and a derivative of hallaca called "bollo"", which is similar but has fewer spices.

My celebration officially begins when I have the opportunity to acquire a hallaca or some ham bread and enjoy it. Generally, I order hallaca or whatever my budget allows, and I celebrate for several days eating this delicacy, which I appreciate very much.

Previously, I remember that Christmas in this area was spent with friends celebrating in the street, but as the level of danger, robberies, and crime has increased a lot in recent years in the area, I stopped doing it.

Bing AI

Additionally, all my friends in the area have either moved, passed away, or gone to another country, so I have no one to spend Christmas or these dates with here.

So, generally, what I do is enjoy these gastronomic delights, and I have a routine that consists of both December 25th and the previous days, as well as the beginning and end of the year, enjoying live cameras showing how these dates are celebrated in different parts of the world: in Russia, Germany, the United States, Japan, Tibet.

I've always found it very curious to enjoy via the internet how other cultures celebrate this date, and it's something I enjoy a lot.

My plans do not include resting.

I wish I could do it, but due to the nature of the economy of the country where I am and the way I make a living, I cannot stop working or creating content because this is the only way I manage to have sustenance and food.

If I stop producing, I won't have more food, and this is the way I spend my festive dates, celebrating by working and watching the celebrations I mentioned in other parts of the world.