Christmas reflections: Multicultural celebrations revive memories
"Those were good times," Martinez, 71, remembers of family gatherings, roasted pork and sweets in her Cuban homeland. But those celebrations were banned after the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
After arriving as a refugee in Utah last month, Martinez will be celebrating for the first time with her son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.
"It's new, new," says Mary Luz Barrientos, 36, Martinez's daughter-in-law. Speaking through an interpreter, Barrientos describes her excitement over the lights and Santa Claus and gifts. But it's a bittersweet celebration for the five, who arrived here together last month, leaving the rest of the their family behind.
Martinez's granddaughter, 12-year-old Mayara Rigual, cries as she describes her Christmas wish to be with her mother, still in Cuba.
Still, Martinez is thrilled to be able to share a long-lost holiday, especially with her son, Oscar Rigual. She smiles as she says in Spanish, "He just turned 40, and he doesn't know."
Martinez is eager to bring back her holiday traditions, which she's relieved are embraced in Utah.
The Seventh-day Adventist family are among nearly 2.2 billion Christians in the world, according to the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. People from across the globe bring their own unique flavors to the traditional celebration.
Richard Stamm, 58, has vibrant memories of the "flickering light" from real candles on a Christmas tree as a young boy in postwar Vienna, Austria. He also remembers cookies and blood oranges, a seasonal fruit known for its red color.
"As a kid, I remembered Christmas Eve. It was, in fact, a full-day holiday," he said. "In the early afternoon we had to take a nap. After that the Christmas tree appeared."
The tree and presents were brought by Kristkindl, the literal translation being "Christ child." But Stamm said, "It didn't have a religious feeling, this Christmas entity."
Children helped to make cookies and in the evening, Stamm said there would be a dinner of traditional schnitzel and goose.
"It was a big deal," he said. "Things were scarce then."
Stamm said he left Austria when he was 7, living in the United States and Switzerland.
His family gave in to some American traditions they set up their Christmas earlier and celebrate on Christmas Day.
Comments
- Funds for new courthouse approved 1:48 a.m.
- Godfrey vetoes Ogden budget 1:48 a.m.
- Odd Fellows Hall move 1:47 a.m.
- 2 country groups to perform 1:47 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- 'The Story of R.C. Willey'
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
In the end it was Michael Jackson, the father, who left me with a...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...




You can be the first to comment on this story.