We had a delightful gathering last night to ring in the new year. Several friends came over to have supper at our place (menu including all-the-vegetables-in-the-fridge soup, mexican chili chicken, pomegranate spinach salad, ginger snaps and black bean brownies) and then we joined the crowds downtown to eat 12 grapes, watch the fireworks, and cheer and laugh and take photos.
12 grapes. Have you heard of that tradition? We´ve been told that it originated one year when there was a surplus of grapes in Spain and someone had the brilliant idea to convince everyone that when the clock strikes 12, at each ringing of the bell, you must eat a grape and make a wish. Whenever we ask anyone about their Christmas and New Year´s traditions, they always mention the grapes, and frequently emphasize how stressful it can be to eat them, especially if you have large grapes with seeds... So we diligently were prepared with our 12 grapes, pre-counted and even de-seeded, before we joined the crowds.
In the end it was fairly chaotic, and we weren´t actually sure if we were eating the grapes during the countdown to 12-midnight, or if the clock had already struck 12... (we couldn´t actually see the clock from our place in the crowd and there was a lot of noise from so many people), but I think that was half the fun. Either way, we have now officially participated in the grape eating tradition, which is obviously very important ;)
After the fireworks we went home for champagne, Dixit, more desserts, chocolate caliente, and much laughter. Although our party didn´t last the whole night (apparently it is very traditional here to stay out or at least awake until after breakfast on Jan.1st), we did stay up until 4am, which is respectable I guess... ;)
And now the second quarter of our year abroad begins!
Some amusing expressions that had us laughing last night were:
Cuatro gatos
Literally: four cats.
This is one of our favourite expressions, especially as one of our mexican friends uses this all the time (in part I think because Nathan always laughs whenever she says it). If you say there were only 4 cats it means that there was no one there. If you say we were four cats, it means we were the only people there. Or that there was practically nothing happening with no one around.
Nada que ver con la navidad
Literally: that has nothing to do with Christmas.
It is an expression that can be used when you want to say that something is completely irrelevant, when it has nothing to do with whatever the main focus of the conversation/argument/whatever you are doing. It is similar to the expression ¨And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?¨ If you are familiar with the game Dixit, this is a useful expression to say when someone plays a card that appears to have nothing to do with the story that has been told. :)
Para gustos, colores
Literally: for tastes, colours.
This expression is more beautiful than comical as it is a lovely way of saying that for the infinite variety of colors/options/combinations that exist in the world for someone somewhere it is perfect. A little bit like ¨to each his own¨, or ¨different strokes for different folks¨ but lovelier.
Wishing you all many blessings and many colours in 2014!
Love,
Candyce
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