Christmas at the Hand of Help program at Santa
Maria del Mexicano
The preparation for this night's celebration began weeks before when on weekends civic groups
from the neighboring towns put on "Posadas" where food is donated and prepared for us.
Usually a presentation is given to us kids such as a play. The preparation for Christmas eve
begins the day before. We had fed our two pigs to edible size and they were butchered and
prepared on Dec 23. Bright and early on Dec. 24 our older children and workers from our four
houses gathered together to prepare for the Christmas dinner. During the course of the day with
much laughter and joy more than 3,000 tamales were made, and 25 cakes and gallons of hot
chocolate also will be served. The little ones are put to bed at 4 p.m. for a siesta, wakened at 6
p.m., bathed and dressed and ready for Mass at 8 p.m. All is now in readiness. Our beautiful
nativity scene which the older children have helped construct along with our very creative artist,
Sister Martha, is brightly lighted with no other lights in the entire church. The procession starts
with all eyes on the child Jesus being carried to and placed in the stable. In the background the
drum is heard and the intensifies as the drummer approaches the alter. Not one little eye is shut
in the congregation and the wonderment continues to unveil as we continue the wonderful
celebration of the anniversary of Our Savior's Birth. After the soul is nourished we retire to the
dinning room where hundreds of tamales and gallons of chocolate and the 25 cakes are heartily
consumed. It was such a Holy night, Christ was reborn within all of us. All of you benefactors
without whom no of this would be possible were in our thoughts and within our hearts. On Dec.
25 at 10 a.m., I began to make the rounds to all the homes and distribute Christmas presents.
Our custom is that every child receive a complete new outfit of clothing. On the feast of the
"Three Kings' we then give toys to the children. Once again, thank you so very much. You
can't imagine the great joy and happiness that you gave to so many grateful little ones.
Children at a play presented at one of the "Posadas" before Christmas. The Posadas are a
celebration of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus and looking for
a place to stay.
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