Patagonia 150 plus

Family

Christmas

According to Mike Winter, 16

"Usually, here in Esquel, if you have good, hot weather, everyone goes to El Lago (the lake; it is about 50km from Esquel) and they spend the day there. We make a corderito al asador (like a barbecue) and drink lots of mate, and swim in the lake. Then, we go to our house, and, with our family, we sing carols and eat cake, garrapiñadas, nougat and much, much more. At midnight, we have a toast, we watch the fireworks for 10 minutes, open presents and then carry on talking and singing and laughing until three or four o'clock in the morning. When everything is finished, everyone goes to bed!

Aira Roberts

Here Aira Roberts, Esquel, remembers celebrating the festival when she was a child:

"Christmas was a happy time when I was a child; the night before Christmas the most important thing was expecting Santa Claus - I would probably have a doll, and would have a new dress for the concert. Christmas day, we would have a special dinner for the celebration; a stuffed turkey and plum pudding. In the afternoon, we would go with family, friends and cousins to Chapel; and would have learned to recite and sing in the 'Band of Hope' by the concert. Everyone did his best; and to finish off, we would have a toy from the lovely tree decorated by the people of the chapel. To end the day, we would have a cup of tea and would play out with the children. It was very different to the way Christmas is celebrated now".

Christmas

Christmas is in the middle of the summer holidays in Argentina - three months' holiday and no-one thinks about school until March. Because everyone is busy with the end of school year activities in November and early December, the Christmas preparations (the gifts, the food and the decorations) are made very close to the date itself. The Christmas tree is usually decorated on December 8th, the day of the Virgin Mary. It is not usual to send Christmas cards in Patagonia and Christmas is more traditional.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve (December 24) is the most important day of the festival and there are big celebrations to mark the birth of Christ at that time.

Everyone tends to relax, eat more and enjoy each other's company on the 25th of December.

Patagonia 150 plus

Introducing Patagonia and Wales

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Christmas

Christmas Eve

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