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Schuttzie wrote:

I just read an article that is very heartwarming about what some traditions were like PR at Christmas time. 

The house I used to live in when I was a kid (1950's), was very close to the one in the article, windows were just a cut out like that, main exception was that the house was up about 4 feet up on stills. I do remember gatherings that were very close to that drawing.

The article is dead on as to what PR holidays used to be like, now people are in fear about their safety so some of it has changed. Back in the old times if a kid stole a candy he was in for a hell of a whipping when dad got home. Not being good and respectful was a sin and the belt or a chancleta (slipper), was always ready at hand to show you the rightful way. Most kids in PR are very familiar with their father belt.

The pig roast:
I grew up part of the time in the metro area and part in El Campo (Las Piedras) around sugar cane plantations and Dairy farms. As a kid of around 10 I used to hold the container to collect the blood from the pig to make the Morcillas (PR Blood Sausage). Kids around 10 get to watch how the Pig is killed, collect the blood, then the hair is removed with very hot water. It is then open and cleaned. Intestines are cleaned and used for the blood sausage, most organs are also saved to cook later for Gandinga.

The pig is put on the varita (Stick) after it has been spiced and oiled well. We typically did the cooking but we also used to hire a local for a few bucks and a 1/2 Gallon bottle of rum, to sit there and keep turning the pig for 12 hours. A lot of time he would bring a friend to take turns turning the pig and drinking the rum, all the time having a conversation and telling each other stories. The guys used to put a good dent on that bottle and took home the rest if any was left (My great gran mother used to help them drink the rum, she was a heavy drinker, yet lived to 103). Us kids would be running around the Batey (Yard), and sneak into the kitchen for morsels of what ever else was being cooked. The male adults would play Dominos and drink beer or share another bottle of rum.

The roasted pig was either used in a party or cut up and a good chunk send to the neighbors and our extended family, we shared with others as they shared with us (Community life).

I love all these old stories of growing up!  Even here in the states our Christmas is far different from when I was growing up.  Thank you for sharing these and I'd love for anyone else to chime in with their traditions.

Well......
The pernil is in the oven and delicious smells are filling the house, the potatoes for the ensalada de papa are cooling down.
I think it's time to say:

Feliz Navidad!

Feliz Navidad a todos! I am about to end my marathon week of cooking today and cap it off with kids and I sitting down with hot chocolate and 24 hours of A Christmas Story! Wishing everyone a day filled with family, friends and good food!

We hope you all had a great Christmas, don't forget that we still have the end of year celebration, plus the 3  King day (Dia de Reyes) and the Octavitas (8 more days of celebration).

So load up on supplies, you don't want to run out of all the goodies you need for the holidays and don't forget to get some "TUMS".

Get a few shoe boxes for the kids, the Camels need fresh grass in the shoe boxes to eat, otherwise the 3 Kings will not drop presents for the kids.

Anybody got a lump of Coal?

More cooking?! I'm already beat! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

boricanroots wrote:

More cooking?! I'm already beat! 

Hey you can start a business of Holiday's TV dinners. Just cover all holidays around the world. Even Leningrad Pot Pie.

ReyP wrote:

boricanroots wrote:

More cooking?! I'm already beat! 

Hey you can start a business of Holiday's TV dinners. Just cover all holidays around the world. Even Leningrad Pot Pie.

Nice! Business idea for moving to the island...CHECK!

Is that legal now in PR?

Sitka wrote:

Is that legal now in PR?

Cooking? or starting a business?
Either way, most things are legal in PR until you get caught.

your pot pie