Decorations are everywhere .... homes, shops, plazas... There's no elaborate external house decorations like we see back home, but then there are very few front yards, but the plazas all have Nativity scenes as well as large lit Nativity figures ... as well as Xmas trees in some form.
Lots of embossed leather in this Nativity scene - in a bank.
Biggest Nativity scene -outside Qorichancha
At home we have lots of decorations and lights. Even the toilet has a Xmas face lift.
A local market at Tupac Plaza which usually only operates weekends has been going for 2 weeks (even in the rain). There are more stalls than usual, and many selling special Xmas items.
Lots of toys, decorations, but by far the greatest section is Nativity scene items - wooden stalls, grass, air fern and other plants for the stall, figurines (Mary, Joseph, 3 Kings, Animals etc) and of course baby Jesus - all sizes, but there's so much more for baby Jesus. There's beds, and elaborate bedding and elaborate clothing - lace, frills embroidery....... And special paper for the backdrop behind the scene. (And I thought it was wrapping paper) Such big business!!!
There's so many more people around the shops. Just like home there's a shopping frenzy - even in the supermarkets. Two days before Xmas, many of the shelves were quite empty, and shoppers had overloaded trolleys.
Xmas Eve is a big day here. We'll do our 'hunting and gathering' (grocery shopping for Xmas), then go into the centre after mid-day. Traditionally, there's a big market in the Plaza de Armas on Xmas Eve. Santuranticuy Market (translates to selling of the saints) is apparently a market where you can buy everything you need to create a spectacular manger scene (I'm guessing it's similar to what we saw at Tupac Plaza) as well as last minute gifts. I understand most of the stalls are operated by locals from outlying communities, and they generally camp in the plaza.
Looking forward to that this afternoon. Back into the centre tonight for church, followed by Xmas dinner - we are dining out. Then possibly a bar, while we wait for midnight fireworks. Then home to open some Xmas presents. Reckon that would suit Nan - she was always awake early to open presents - and even rang us very early if we weren't together for Xmas). Hope I last the distance... but I'm thinking my early AM blogging may not have been such a good idea!!! Oh well ... too late now to worry about that.
Xmas Day ... will have to wait and see how that pans out. Like so much here, we go with the flow. Enjoy it all.
Feliz Navidad to all..............
3 comments:
Sounds amazing! I so wish that I was there with you all! I can't wait to hear about the hunting and gathering expedition and what it is that you needed to find....
Have a very Merry Christmas - Lots and lots and lots of love Sophie!!!!!
Oh .. 'hunting and gathering' was just for food - fruit and vegetables from the mercado - better quality and fresher than the supermarket; meat also from the mercado, and of course, flowers.
Off to a panerderia ... for bread.
Then to the supermarket - wine, milk .... and rice.
Oh and we found a Peruvian Vienetta (ice-cream) - lucama and vanilla. Should be interesting.
Off to the Plaza for the Santuranticuy Market - if we can get a tax to take us in. Taxi driver this morning would only take us if we weren't going to the centre - soooo busy. Xmas Chaos.... gotta love Xmas!
and our day continues. The market was amazing - thousands of people, market stalls all around the plaza, and through the centre. No traffic in the plaza today. Looks like another blog entry just for the market. Off to church soon, then Xmas dinner in the centre. Gotta love Xmas!!
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