Archive for December 1st, 2010
Christmas Punch
A traditional recipe from: The Doña Luisa Xicotencatl, Antigua Cookbook (Spanish/English) 1 pineapple, cubed 1 papaya, cubed 1 coconut, grated 4 ounces raisins 4 ounces prunes 1 cinnamon stick ½ pound sugar Put one gallon of water in a pot and add the cinnamon. When the water begins to boil, add all the other ingredients [...]
An Exercise in Futility
The cardio high and other pleasures of climbing Cerro de la Cruz My body is a temple—a temple of doom. Some of the erosion—hair, hearing, back, knee—is beyond my control now that I’m a 50-something. Weight is another story. A good 5-10 pounds would melt away if I simply dropped my beer habit, but in [...]
Turquoise
Turquoise is just a stew of copper and aluminum, found in Turkey as in much of the world, a soft stone that’s a symbol for December and the holiday season. Turquoise was on the list of paint colors approved by the Spanish Colonial governments, and many little tiendas and homes continue to be painted turquoise [...]
Holiday Shopping in Antigua
text and photos by Jennifer Rowe If you are new to Guatemala, on a budget, or just having trouble coming up with unique ideas for gifts this holiday season, do not fret! Here are a few suggestions of what is available to you from some of the merchants in Antigua. If there’s someone on your [...]
Nacimientos
While Santa Claus and Christmas trees may be symbols of the Christmas season, nacimientos (nativity scenes) are a Christmas custom the world over. Saint Francis of Assisi built the first one in 1223 after returning from a trip to Bethlehem. It quickly became a tradition and spread throughout the Catholic world, including Spain. The Spanish [...]
What is your favorite fiesta this month?
The celebration of La Concepción in Ciudad Vieja, near La Antigua Guatemala, is incredible! Everyone enjoys beginning the Christmas cycle by “burning the devil” on Dec. 7. Many will gather at La Concepción in Antigua at 6 p.m. to burn an effigy of the devil enhanced with a sign notating local gossip. After the reading [...]
December 2010 in Revue Magazine
December is here and with it the usual and unusual sights, sounds and flavors of the Christmas season. Elizabeth Bell fills us in on her favorite among the unique ceremonies of the Christmas season, while Joy Houston tells us about festivities honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe. Need some holiday gift ideas? Jennifer Rowe took a [...]
