Angela and her nephew Martin The night of Christmas Eve or ‘La Noche Buena’ in
Latin America is the big occasion. Christmas Day is comparable to Boxing Day (minus the football) and is spent relaxing and in recovery.
Christmas Eve is the last night of the Novenas, so we all took a turn to read the prayers then we exchanged presents. Angela’s little nephew, Martin, cut a fun figure on his new toy motorbike dressed as Santa.
Beatrice & Alvaro (Angela's mum & dad)
We then headed out to a party in a hall hired out by all of Angela’s mum’s family for the night (the chiva posse), comparable to an 18th in a social club. After a slow start sitting around the edge of the hall sipping rum and cokes, things got going around 11pm when we were served massive plates of beef and rice, followed by the traditional Christmas natilla – smooth, set milk pudding. Blaring music was interrupted for the countdown to midnight, followed by hugging and kissing everyone in the room (about 70 or 80 people) and wishing them a happy Christmas. Our cheeks ached. Presents from various family members to the children (who were still going strong at 4am) were then dispersed by the dj, calling them up to the front to collect them. This was followed by an apparently terrible local band. We had a good go at dancing anyway.
After this and approaching 2am, it all became quite hilarious. Angela’s mum is one of 6 and each family was required to perform an ‘act’ to the rest. A food hamper was at stake and Angela’s granny the judge. We had been forewarned and all families were well prepared with costumes and music. We performed a salsa tragic comedy, Pedro Navajas or Pedro Daggers. A policeman (Simon) is patrolling the red light district and stops and searches a prostitute (Angela’s brother dressed in drag). 
A bit later, Pedro (the other brother) approaches the prostitute and tries to steal her bag. There is a kafuffle. He pulls a knife on her and she pulls out a gun. He ends up dead and she’s stabbed on the floor. A drunk approaches (Angela’s dad) and steals all their stuff. While this is all going on, there is a chorus of prostitutes in wigs and false eyelashes (me, Angela, her mum and sister in law), hanging around. The song ends by concluding that life is full of surprises.
We seemed to go down well but the winning family (who had a professional dancer in their midst) were the ‘Chavo de Ocho’ (see below)– a Mexican cult comedy series with lots of bizarre characters.
We eventually went to bed at about 5am and spent a good part of Christmas Day on Skype. We spoke to people, opened a few presents from home and ate chocolate; all of which all helped to make us feel a little closer to the Engish Christmas we were missing.
Later on, after heading up to a vantage point over Bogota with Angela and her brother, we made apple and blackberry crumble with real custard.
With Kike, Angela's brother
Christmas has definitely been completely different for us this year and we’ve missed home, but in Colombia with Angela and her family, we’ve really enjoyed an alternative Christmas.
Angela and her nephew Martin 
Beatrice & Alvaro (Angela's mum & dad)
A bit later, Pedro (the other brother) approaches the prostitute and tries to steal her bag. There is a kafuffle. He pulls a knife on her and she pulls out a gun. He ends up dead and she’s stabbed on the floor. A drunk approaches (Angela’s dad) and steals all their stuff. While this is all going on, there is a chorus of prostitutes in wigs and false eyelashes (me, Angela, her mum and sister in law), hanging around. The song ends by concluding that life is full of surprises.
With Kike, Angela's brother
2 comments:
Hey there!
Hope the custard recipe was a success...it was a bit brief. Happy new year! Neil xxx
The custard was indeed a success, thanks for the recipe. We made it three times! Twice with crumble and once with apple and blackberry filled pancakes. It was too thin really but the Colombians were impressed none the less.
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