"For many Latinos, Nochebuena - the night before Christmas - shines brighter than most holidays. Central Americans typically spend the evening feasting on tamales. Caribbean families may eat lechón, or pork shoulder, with a side of black rice and beans. Families from the Philippines, which was colonized by Spain for hundreds of years, celebrate with favorites like pancit or fruit salad."
"Some are trying to find new meaning in Nochebuena or are adopting new traditions. Others, like Anthony Guevara, are expecting much smaller celebrations. He typically reunites with more than 100 relatives at his parents home in Northern Virginia for the holiday. This year, he and his sibling are meeting their mother, who was deported to El Salvador, in Spain for a smaller celebration. "It's going to be a little lonelier than usual," Guevara said."
"For years, the Cortes family's Nochebuena spilled out of their small Southern California apartment - a night thick with the scent of masa, meat and simmering broth. Patriarch Francisco swayed to songs by Los Pasteles Verdes and the sound of cumbia while helping in the kitchen. By nightfall, the table was overflowing with food. The tree glowed. The ceiling shimmered with hanging ornaments."
Nochebuena is a central holiday for many Latino families, characterized by regional foods and large family gatherings. Increased immigration enforcement across the country has cast a shadow on the holiday for many Latino families. Families are responding by seeking new meanings, adopting different traditions, or holding much smaller celebrations. Some are traveling abroad to reunite with relatives who were deported. Longstanding household Nochebuena traditions have included overflowing tables, music, and crowded homes, but this year many celebrations are expected to be quieter and more fragmented due to enforcement and separations.
Read at The Washington Post
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]