Tag Archives: images of a party

Candelaria, 2023

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Friends to share a meal with…
And friends who won’t leave your side, no matter what.

(Please click on photos to enlarge.)

This is the party where the folks who got the babies in the cake at the Tres Reyes Party on January 6 have to bring the tamales for the Candelaria party on February 2. Morrie got to come to the party but Zoe and Coco had to go to the doggie hotel.  Morrie was so upset when they left with Pepe, thinking they got to go on a walk but he didn’t. He more than made up at it for the party, however, where he got all the attention. He was a very good boy.

If you don’t know about this tradition, here is a shortened explanation from trip savvy:

The holiday of Candlemas has many names in English, such as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ or the Feast of the Holy Encounter, but in Mexico, it’s simply referred to as el Día de la Candelaria. Even though this religious festival is observed in Catholic church services around the world, Candelaria in Mexico has its own special traditions that don’t exist anywhere else, some of which tie back to Aztec times before Christianity even came to the Americas.

What Is el Día de la Calendaria?

El Día de la Calendaria in English is known in the Catholic Church as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ. It commemorates the day when his mother, Mary, brought him to the Temple in Jerusalem for the first time, as described in the Book of Luke, chapter 2, verse 22-23 in the New Testament. The feast is one of the oldest celebrations in Christianity, dating back to at least the fourth century in ancient Jerusalem. It’s also sometimes known as the Feast of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary since traditions.

Outside of attending church services, Candelaria is celebrated at home with a big family dinner, usually with tamales. The tradition actually begins a month earlier on Three King’s Day when families eat the typical holiday cake called rosca de Reyes, which has a small figurine of baby Jesus baked into the dessert. The person who finds the figurine in their slice of rosca is in charge of hosting the Candelaria party in February—and providing the tamales.

Another important custom in Mexico, particularly in areas where Catholic traditions run strong, is for families to own a doll-sized version of baby Jesus called Niño Dios, or Christ Child. The Niño Dios is first placed in the home Nativity scene on Christmas Eve and then given gifts on Three King’s Day. On Candelaria, people dress up their Niño Dios and bring it to church with them, just as Jesus was believed to have been presented

 

David and Sergio’s Boxing Day Party

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Yesterday was the Boxing Day party of my neighbors and I think the photos tell it all. Every year they add another tree. I think they are up to 8 now. Their Jewish tree is hung upside down!  Another tree is covered by cardinals. I don’t think I got a photo of it this year. At any rate, welcome to the party. Click on photos to enlarge.

See many more photos of the different trees plus explanations by Sergio HERE.

Party Talk at Mar-a-Lago

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Party Talk at Mar-a-Lago

It’s a nightmare of prattle disguised as discussion,
but if you ask me, it is merely percussion.
They are not ennobled by the words that they speak
about all the profits and glory they seek.
They can buy costly furnishings but not good taste
with these fortunes collected in greed and great haste.
See their vain postures as they sip and feed?
We can only hope fate makes them pay for their greed.

 

Prompts for the day are: nightmare, prattle, disguised, ennoble and taste.

Party House

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Party House

I can’t take the pressure of frivolous neighbors.
Their loud celebrations conflict with my labors.
Their barbecue odors disturb my frail nose.
They turn up the music when I want to doze.

Convivial people are really a pain.
Of my existence, they’re really the bane.
I wish I could trade them for sedater folks
who had quieter music and told fewer jokes,

for the laughter I hear is pure noise pollution.
I wish I could think of a better solution:
a wall or a device to filter the sound,
but instead I must phone or cry out or pound

on the door that no one inside ever hears.
They just do not care, or so it appears.
I complain to the neighborhood association
that sends them a warning to curb their elation,

but somehow the party just starts up again.
More laughter, more music, more odors, more din.
If only they knew that there’s no need to fight me.
I’d overlook all if they’d only invite me!

Prompt words today are can’t, pressure, frivolous, convivial and  nose.

My Day So Far

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My Day So FarIMG_2900IMG_2896

My day started with a visit from Ellie, who came to do her weekly cleaning.  While I made us coffee, she washed windows, and just as I sat down with my cup and my computer, she held up this little fellow.   He was so tiny.  Also, unfortunately, he was not alive.  I hope by natural causes and not by Ellie’s hand!

Next on my agenda was my Saturday writing group.  There was a huge group this time–23 by my count.  We’re planning a reading for next week.  Here are two shots of the group.

IMG_2905 IMG_2920

Next was a party at a new friend’s house on the mountain directly above the bull ring where the rodeo will be held for the next three days.  I met Jan when she came to my house to see my work at the end of the day right after the art walk. She brought pictures of her own work which is fabulous.  She, too, uses found objects.  As you can see by these photos, both her home and her work is unique.  We are planning a materials-gathering expedition together.

(Please click on first photo to view enlarged gallery.)

This is Jan and the next two images are just two of her many wonderful found art assemblages.
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Even cowboys get the urge to text now and then. Fortunately for me, because he stopped to do so and I got to photograph his horse’s intricate hairdo. Cowboys don’t text and drive!!
As you can see, even Elvis put in an appearance.
I love the guy lofting his cowboy hat in the background. This is also the restaurant where the man sat in the parking lot and commented on my photographing the flowers.(The story is given in my previous posting.)
“And the goat-footed balloon man whistled far and wee.” (e.e. cummings)