Angels Sing on High

December 24, 2013

(For whatever reason I am no longer able to upload videos onto this page, so please check out the YouTube links to see videos of the events  - in particular, the special videos of the Olón Orphanage 2013 Christmas Party)

 

 

The winter solstice was a couple of days ago.
It’s the shortest day of sunlight during the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
It’s the longest day of sunlight in South America, and means diddly-squat in Ecuador, because we have twelve hours each of day and night, with little variation year-round.
Our weather is heating up, and Christmas has a way of sneaking up on some of us.

Since Thanksgiving, many houses are brightly lit, and a lot of locals display their trees outside too.  The lights are blinking from our house as well, and our fake Christmas tree is up…which was easy, since we have nowhere else to store it, the tree is a permanent fixture in our living room.
We’ve been listening to lots of Christmas music to get in the holiday spirit. The other night, Todd and I were fixing “breakfast for dinner” and listening to Bing Crosby, and couldn’t help but think that it was “beginning to smell a lot like bacon” in our case.

 

 

 

 

 

The holiday season in Olón is marked with raucous town parties, parades, and nativity pageants – punctuated with frequent and loud fireworks (which terrify Daisy, and she has spent most of it cowering at home, in the far reaches of our office).
Below, I have posted pictures and videos of some of the recent festivities here in Olón.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parades are a big deal here, especially this annual one:

Please see this link for a video of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE4u4_TiYsE&feature=youtu.be

  

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite pictures I took that day

 

 

As are Nativity scenes and pageants:
The "reason for the season" is celebrated here in Ecuador.





The scene is set for the Nativity Pageant later in the evening.

 

 

 

 Other town events that mark this season:

Baptisms on the beach

 

New soda pop machines being delivered to the
beach cabanas (in readiness for our "high" season)

 





 

 

The aluminum turkey pan needed some
"flexibility" (squishing) to fit in here



It is Christmas Eve, which is traditionally the day that Ecuadorians  close up shop early, and celebrate together as families.  It is a festive day, but on the somber side.
Todd and I are fixing our turkey dinner for tonight, so we can eat left overs and do movie marathons tomorrow.
One of the challenges of fixing holiday meals in Ecuador is that many of our traditional ingredients aren’t available, so improvisations are required in the kitchen (not to mention that whole turkeys cost as much as a used car).  Over the course of three and half years of living here, we have both become more adept regarding substitutions, but Todd definitely reigns as the chef in our household.

 

My lack of interest in cooking - along with my poor sense of smell – renders me a mediocre cook (though as a Kansas City gal, I do come with a pretty decent repertoire of casseroles).

 

Given that insight, it strikes both Todd and me – as hilarious - that I am a HUGE, HUGE fan of “Top Chef”.

I never miss an episode, read many of the “Top Chef” blogs, and talk French while warming up canned lentils on our itsy-bitsy propane stove.

I can define a “mise en place”, “amuse-bouche”, but still trying to figure out what the hell might be a “chawanmushi”.

I’m thinking our kitchen might make a fun place for a Quickfire Challenge, given the teesny, weensy, baby stove/oven, and equipment and ingredients available. 
Because I think most expats who have lived here long enough can take on those "Top Chef" guys any day, in this situation.
Gauntlet thrown.

 

 

 

 



"Santa" (Woot) and

"Mamita" Isabel the.
director of the orphanage in Olón

But most special today (Christmas Eve) was the annual Christmas party at the Olón Orphanage. Many expats and locals contribute to make this a special day for the kids (providing a holiday meal and gifts that these children don’t normally have).
Traditionally, these special children put on a Christmas program to celebrate the day. Not to be missed, and never a dry eye in the house afterwards.
I will let the photos and videos links from that presentation say the rest`

 

Angel from the Lord speaks to Mary
"Do not be afraid"
“For Nothing is impossible with God”
The angel went to her and said,
 “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”


 

Please click on this YouTube link below. Not a dry eye in the house afterwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RELlUtv5T60&feature=youtu.be

 

  Joseph and Mary seeking shelter for the birth of their child.

Mary & Joseph
seeking shelter

  



A child is born

  

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
 keeping watch over their flocks at night.
 An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
 and the glory of the Lord shone around them.
 and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people".

 

 



The shepherds said to one another,

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing

 that has happened,

which the Lord has told us about.”

 

 Click here to see the shepherds pay their respects:

 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O56jvrlbZS8&feature=youtu.be

And the angels sang on high