Our Culiacan Christmas

We have any number of pictures from this trip during Christmas to the home of the Uribe's during Christmas and for Sofia's First Communion.  These fifty or so we hope are representative of the trip.    

One can also read the Journal in English or the Oficial in Spanish by clicking on either.

The Uribe family proper and the relatives on both Francisco's and Carmen's side, and all their friends and acquaintances were wonderful and we will cherish the time we spent with them.

We didn't put up a tree in Florida this year because we were going to Mexico, so this tree in the Uribe's home in Culiacan was perfect.

Christmas Morning 

Grandmother Carmen and Sofia wonder what this gift is - and find it is a handmade doll from  Ginger, our neighbor   in Satellite Beach.                                                                                                                      

Francisco has written a message to his family for Christmas morning that Esti read.   It was very moving and had everyone in tears.

    Sofia played Santa and passes out gifts 

  Francisco and Pepey  share a moment

  The table awaits Christmas breakfast  

AND WE GET READY TO GO TO CHURCH

Esti helps Sofia as she dresses for her First Communion

                      Finishing touches 

Esti, Sofia and Mike are ready to leave

                Yovalis, Sofia and Armando look like a fashion magazine 

                        Uncle Pepey and Sofia are ready 

The church is decorated for Christmas, a Christmas tree on one side,                         and a nativity on the other.   Beautiful flowers in front and on the alter

Sofia, in front of the church holding her special candle,  just prior to the service.

This beautiful dress, handbag and veil are the loving product of hours of work by Grandmother Carmen.  No picture will do it justice.  Below is an example of the detailed work done.  Because Sofia had grown so much taller since Carmen had originally measured and completed the dress,  she had to add to its length.

And now just some of our pictures - just a few of the multitude of pictures taken by everyone who attended the service - there must have been one camera for two people.

        Grandparents Francisco & Carmen        Grandparents Jackie & Earl

All the Grandparents - Uribe and Gillespie

Sofia, aunts and Uncles.  Soon to be Uncle Armando, Aunt Yovalis,  Aunt Edelbias  and Uncle Pepey

The Uribe Family - Francisco, Esti, Yovalis, Sofia, Edelbais, Carmen and Pepey.  A handsome group!

  Francisco and his close, lifelong friend, Father Fausto

  Father Fausto was not feeling well and found it difficult to get      to the service that morning.  No one knew he was terminally ill.

 He passed away less than a week after this picture was taken.

 The Uribe's, and especially his life-long friend Francisco, were      devastated by this loss. 

Family was involved in so many ways in the service.  Father Fausto was an "Uncle" to the Uribe siblings and Sofia.   Francisco and Carmen walked with Sofia in the procession.  We carried the traditional basket of bread, wine and fruit and presented it to the alter.  Francisco served a the acolyte during the service.  

Both Yovalis and Armando read scriptures for the service.

The service ended with Sofia hugging "Uncle" Fausto, and all the children in the church being invited to join Sofia at the center isle. 

  All the Aunts and Uncles.

                    Mike and Sofia share a brief moment

AND OFF TO THE PARTY WE GO .........

So we find Sofia, in her beautiful dress, veil and handbag, off playing on a merry-go-round.  Moments after this picture, she fell off, but held on to be dragged around perhaps three of four rounds until I stepped in.  We persuaded her then to change her clothes. 

     The cake was spectacular,     

And there were cupcakes for the kids.

 

Sofia, when she thought no one was watching, takes a sneaky taste of the icing!

Unfortunately, the bakery which was to prepare the cake the prior day did not do so.   After a "discussion" with Carmen, she was assured it would be prepared in time for the party.  Esti stopped on the way to pick up the cake.  As you see it was decorated wonderfully.  However, Carmen discovered after she had sluiced about half the cake, that it had been just baked and was still warm inside.  Consequently it collapsed as it was worked down to the last layers.   None-the-less, it tasted great!

Carmen and a cakely mess

Everyone thought it would be a good idea for a "just family" picture.  Each time we would snap a shot, additional family members would hear of he picture, and would join the group.  This is perhaps the sixth try at a group picture - and I'm certain if we had waited, even more family would have been included, but after this many tries, all us would-be photographers gave up - as did the family pose. 

Oh yes, the party resulted with Esti and Mike filling the trunk of the car with gifts - like a second Christmas for Sofia.   Carmen and Chef Pepey (having graduated cuisine school after 3 1/2 years of study three weeks later in January! ) take a break from the kitchen to watch Sofia open the gifts.

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Prior to Christmas we had the opportunity to visit with both sides of the family.

First, we visited Carmen's family Christmas party. 

They have a Christmas tradition of a Christmas play.  While Jackie and I don't speak Spanish, with Esti's help, we could generally follow the action.

The primary characters don home-made costumes representing Joseph, Mary, Shepherds, an Inn Keeper, his Wife, an Angel, a Devil, the Wise Men and a Fairy fill in the action. 

A narrator, and his assistants,  set the stage with the background for the story and describe the setting:   

Joseph and Mary, Shepherds, the Devil and the Wise Men appear at the door of the inn (the door to the house is closed and those outside are shouting their lines).  They ask to come in.  The Inn Keeper and his wife (again shouting through the door) tell them there is no room in the Inn.  The Angel supports Joseph and Mary's request and after some discussion, they are allowed to enter.  The door is slammed to prevent the devil from entering.  All then join in song.  I don't know what the Fairy has to do with all this but Armando wore his wings well.

After the play and great food, the tradition of a Secret Santa gift exchange occurs - right at midnight.

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The next night we visited with Francisco's family at their 

traditional Christmas party

As with Carmen's family, the party starts with a tradition.  Rather than a play, the party normally starts with Francisco' father or mother offering a Christmas message.  As both have passed, the most senior of the eleven sons and daughters has the responsibility.   Imagine if you will perhaps 75 - 100 family and friends ( and kids) sitting quietly while they are offered a message of maybe 20 minutes on love, honor and family values.  We were deeply impressed.

Following that, the Secret Santa gift giving commences. 

As you see, Esti is displaying her gift - 

Each, as they receive their gift has to: 1) tear it open as fast as humanly possible, and then  2) show, model or display their gift, while  3) receiving cheers and/or jeers from the others.   The Secret Santa must have gone on over an hour, given the large number of people there. 

Even with all the noise and activity, Sophia can have a few quiet moments with Aunt Edelbias

The party was outside in a huge patio / garden setting, with everyone sitting and eating around flowers and trees.

Mia, who had her face and hands washed a number of times loves the party.  Between cake, icing and soda, she spent a lot of time  sitting and grinning at Jackie and me. 

The center-piece of the part for the children were the four piñatas.  Each was furiously attached by each child - with great enthusiasm,  pieces were slowly knocked off. 

There were three paper mache piñatas and one of the more classical piñata with a clay pot.   None contained candy as individual packages of candy and treats had been prepared for each child and adult.  This certainly did not curb the enthusiasm of the kids, although I think we broke three striking sticks before the one with the clay pot was broken.

Broken pieces of the piñatas became hats and parts of costumes.

Jackie, as she watched, was asked by a couple children to hold their bits and pieces they had broken off while they went back to break off more.

Esti found herself in charge  sharing the candy packets

We had a wonderful time.  Everyone was warm and friendly.  At both family Christmas parties and the First Communion Party, language was not a problem, as usual, action and affection  speak louder than words.  We met lovely people with whom  we hope to maintain contact for a long time, both with email and with visits.

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And we had to leave

A last view of Culiacan sitting in the valley, from just above the Uribe home. 

The last afternoon we visited Culiacan with Esti.  We saw places and locations that were meaningful to the Uribe family, like where Francisco and Carmen met.  We took a walk along the river and visited the famous Cathedral.   There were baptisms being held at the Cathedral and we asked one of the parents there to allow us to take a picture of just one of the beautiful baptism gowns. 

A last good bye from the Uribe family.  Wonderful people, a real family.  We will miss them dreadfully. 

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Back to Mazatlan to shop and pack to fly home

We had made up our minds to bring bathroom basins back with us (read the journal for the background and story).   So off we went to get some small gifts for family and friends and to visit a couple of our favorite places.

The basin (one of two) we selected and brought back as "carry - on " luggage.  

Our last stop is a square in front of an old church in old town Mazatlan.  As you see it was all decorated to celebrate Christmas.  We simply sat and watch people enjoying the warm night. 

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