Hello, my respected Steemitian Members.
Let's start this new post talking about The Venezuelans' Christmas Traditions 5 years ago and the present time.
Firstly, in our country Venezuela, We celebrate with a number of religious and traditional customs. It is supposed we commemorate a very important date according to the bible which is the birth of God's son "Jesus Christ". The next picture is a photo of Pesebre ( the tipical representation of the place where Jesus Christ was born):
One of the most expected day, in my childhood, was december 24th Christmas Eve "Noche Buena" as it is called in spanish. My close family members got together to enjoy the traditional holiday dinner. This wonderful dish is integrated by :
HALLACAS
"Pan de Jamon" (Ham Bread) which is a long bread filled with cooked ham and raisins.
"Penil Horneado" (Venezuelan Pork Roast). In Venezuela, We usually have Pork Roast instead of Turkey, although there are some people that want to change it a bit and chose Turkey or Chicken.
"Ensalada de Gallina" (Hen Salad)
"Dulce de Lechoza" is a dessert made of Green Papaya and Brown Sugar slowly cooked and served cold.
The Complete Venezuelan Christmas Dinner Dish is set in this way, well 5 or more years ago.
We always got full and I usually unzipped my pants to release my belly afterwards. We got some glasses of wine or another alcoholic beverages to relax and have fun waiting till midnight to start the Gift Giving Tradition among my family members and even neighbors and very close friend, most of the time we stay up till dawn.
Sudsequently, We ask my naughty daughter and nephews to go to bed in order to recieve Jesus Child Gifts. Baby Jesus plays the role of Santa Claus in Venezuela, bringing gifts for children on Christmas Eve. It was amazing seeing their faces unwrapping their presents in the morning of December 25th.
In 2017 Christmas Eve nonetheless will not be the same celebration we used to have 5 or 10 years ago due to Venezuela Economic and Politic Crisis. I recall that INCES Institute where I have been working for, we used to have a special Christmas Lunch the day before Nativity Vacation, We did not do anything this year though.
This wonderful sharing moment happened 8 years ago, these are my still Co-workers, they felt like crying beacuse We could not gather as usual. I do not think I will have my Christmas Dinner next December 24th.
Venezuelan Traditions are being affected and almost nothing is being the same. I have not seen the same amount of Christmas Decorations everywhere as in previous years, even on the streets. Moreover, it is unbelievable, there are not people walking around the streets to buy clothes and Shoes for their offspring and themselves, They are just asking around prices and getting away from the store with nothing in their hands, only window shoppings.
The next pictures, you can see me enjoying the beauty of Christmas Decorations on the street, Bolivar Squares and Malls.
The first one was in Las Americas Mall, Maracay City, Venezuela.
At Bolivar Square, Puerto la Cruz City.
At Guanta City.
There are many beautiful places in my country to do sightseening tours, nowadays they are not affordable for us who live in it.
I pray to the Lord every day, I wish that everything could be affordable (Clothes, Medicine, and Food) before this nightmare called Socialism (a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole) settled in here. We ended up saying this Quote"We were extremmely Wealthy and Happy, although we did not Know it".