Las Novenas

Last night we were invited to celebrate ¨Las Novenas¨with a friend of Rafa´s at their residential comles. There were a ton of kids. Diego is settling in and has figured out that there are more children here than at home. We spent the earlier part of the afternoon riding the new transit system (which is great!) and at the Museo del Caribe (full of kids). On our way home to rest before the evening Diego was asking for ¨mas ninos?¨ (more kids?)

Here is a little snipit from our friends at Wikipedia explaining the novenas:
December 16 is the first day of the Christmas Novena, a devotion consisting of prayer said on nine successive days, the last one held on Christmas Eve. The Novena is promoted by the Church as a staple of Christmas. It is a call for an understanding of the religious meaning of Christmas, and a way to counter the commercialism of the Christmas season. Individual traditions concerning the Novena may vary, but most families set up a pesebre (manger scene), sing religious Christmas carols called villancicos accompanied by tambourines, bells, and other simple percussion instruments, and read verses from the Bible as well as an interpretation which may change from year to year. Novenas serve as beautiful religious gatherings as well as learning environments for young children since kids have a central and active role in the celebration of the Novenas (they read prayers, sing, and play instruments guided by their family).

 Diego: ¨Clause, ho, ho, ho¨ - very impressed

Diego: ¨mucho ninos¨ (lots of kids) - still, very impressed