Fireworks + visiting friends and
family + eating all day = the biggest holiday of the year. It is difficult to understand the celebrations we witnessed yesterday if we used our own cultural lenses, but that is why we are spending our time learning language AND culture. This year we stayed in town and started our day
like normal; early morning exercise and studying before the boys woke up. I spent extra time outside this morning to
capture a few pictures of the atmosphere on this holiday. A special gathering began at 6:30am at all the local
places of worship. Very similar to
special holidays in the States, attendance is at its peak, therefore everyone
gathers outside. Our complex became a
parking lot, as did many roads. It was
such an interesting sight to see. I,
Erin, saw at least 3 different parents bring bouncy seats for their
babies who were in tow.
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| The four lane road at the end of our street became a parking lot in at least two lanes. |
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| Women and children gather in the back half, while men gather in the front of a large parking lot the street from our complex. |
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| complete with balloon sellers! |
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| women in the usual dress for their place of gathering |
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| people spilled out into the street to attend |
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| men up in the front wearing traditional black or brown hats |
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| visiting our friend's aunt's house |
Our neighbors brought us traditional
holiday food shortly after 8am. Then at
9am we went to our host family’s house to eat with them. After a couple hours we returned home to be
picked up by friends to visit their house.
Prior to leaving we were invited in to our neighbors’ house, the ones who
brought us food earlier, and were served a jello dessert and glasses of
coke. Shortly there after we left with
our friends. Our friends, actually their
18 year old son, 15 year old daughter, and 12 year son first drove us to their
aunt’s house to visit and eat…again.
When we arrived at our friends house we were served another meal. Then we enjoyed some relaxed time
visiting. We arrived home in the middle
of the afternoon and were visited by another friend, this time I served them food and I just drank water. So from 9am to 4pm we visited four homes, ate
three meals, and drank lots of pop.
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| traditional cookies on the table, accompanied by glasses of coke |
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| relaxing at a friend's house |
The boys did very well visiting
many new people who wanted to take their pictures. It helped that they were constantly offered
cookies and pop. We went to bed, both the night before and night of, watching fireworks from our bedroom windows.
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| food from our neighbors, from middle bottom going clockwise: bundled rice, beef, chicken with curry, and vegetables with coconut milk. |
