As a teenager I spent Christmas Eve at the dance. My town in Mexico had a dance almost every day during the last few weeks of December, between holidays, weddings, quinceañeras, and other celebrations. It was the most convenient for families to gather during the holidays from across Mexico and the US. So, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve invariably found me, my sister and our friends at a dance.
At midnight, though, most of our friends would start an exodus. At a quarter to midnight we’d all gather our coats and purses, and make the trek across the plaza (often in the cold and rain) to go to midnight mass. We’d all stand in the back and stay there for the 30 minutes or so of mass. Some of us would take communion, some wouldn’t, but we’d all return to the dance once mass was over. This was a tradition for us, every year, for Christmas and New Year’s.
Now I spend Christmas Eve with my family, in a quiet celebration. I’ve come a long way.
What was your Christmas tradition?
