Thursday, October 8, 2009

16 de Septiembre

Although Independence day is the 16th of September, all the celebrations take place on the evening of the 15th.  Everyone stays up late, and then they can relax the next day.  We were invited to celebrate with the family of a teacher who works with Karl named Blanca.  She is also LDS.  The party started at her sister's house at about 9pm.  We had a lot of great traditional food: pelonas (shredded beef on a roll) , chalupas (tortillas with shredded beef and onions and red and green salsa), chanclas (kind of like a Mexican style sloppy joe all covered in sauce), and tostadas, and horchata (a sweet rice drink).  Then right before 11pm, we turned on the TV to watch the mayor speak and see some shots fired.  I know there's some significance to it all, but I'm not sure what it is.  And then we all headed outside to watch some fireworks in the distance and make a lot of noise (see picture below).



 Daniel and another little boy at the party show off their ears with Mexican flags on them that light up.


Everyone loved Chiara.


This guy bribed Chiara to sit with him by showing her his iphone.


The party went a little late for Joseph.  He collapsed shortly after the fireworks.


After the fireworks they turned on dancing music and brought out a chocolate fountain.  I learned that frozen cantelope balls taste fabulous when dipped in chocolate.  Stephen was a very reluctant dancer.  Daniel was pretty reluctant, too, when he was with a partner, but then he started dancing solo and imitating a rock star.  He was all over the place and even trying to do the splits.  He's always told us that he wants to be a drummer, and now, after watching him dance song after song, I'm starting to wonder . . . future band member??  We took some video of him dancing, but I guess we didn't get any still shots.


A parting picture.


Can't leave out Joseph!

3 comments:

  1. The speach and the shots date back to the start of the war for Mexican independence. Don Miguel Hildalgo gave a rallying speach at the local church at about 11:00 p.m. on the 15, and the next day the war for independence started. All of the presidents since then have given speaches on the 15th as a way of relating or associating themselves with Don Hildalgo.

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  2. I can't wait to see Daniel dance like a rockstar! haha.

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  3. I'm so glad that you didn't leave out the farewell picture of Joseph. I think I would've been joining Joseph if I was there. Tell Stephen that Shay wanted to talk to him longer but they were in the car leaving when Noble ran out and got Shay out of the car. Tell Elena that Devree enjoyed emailing her and to send your phone number so we can call you guys next time.

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