Please enjoy the beautiful music by  the Canadian Tenors “The Prayer” one of my favorites.

It is the night before Christmas and I am typing away on my computer keyboard and busy editing Christmas pictures for my Texas Annie Ecuador blog. Earlier tonight I had been watching out our kitchen window the wonderful display of fireworks indicating the Ecuadorian celebration is starting. The music will continue throughout the night and the next few days. But then in a softer tone little fairy-like fireflies were having their own type of fireworks display in the backyard with little flickering lights everywhere.  Earlier this afternoon our gardener’s wife and little boy delivered 2 dozen beautiful red roses to me. What a glorious Christmas Eve!

This is our second Christmas in little Cotacachi, Ecuador. So I wonder why it took me leaving my beloved county to capture the real spirit of Christmas again that somehow I had lost over the years. Maybe due to a stress-filled lifestyle, job, and the materialization of a USA Christmas. What I had lost but found in Ecuador is the type of feeling you had when you were a child.  But even more than that is the deep spirituality of mankind that seems to be lost in today’s world. So I needed a simpler time without the frantic rushing out to buy gifts and getting back to the real understanding of what is important about Christmas and remembering the true meaning.

Bill and I were so fortunate to be invited to the employee’s party for La Mirage. I had no idea that they hosted a party each year for their employees. The morning was spent with the staff preparing the Virgin Mary and little Baby Jesus for the event.

The celebration started out with a little service in the La Mirage Chapel followed by food and drink which is a tradition after the service.

 

Later that afternoon after the employees had lunch we were invited to a special lunch with included the owners, owners’ family  & managers of La Mirage. The magic really began at 2:00 pm when the staff transported little baby Jesus in the van to a designed place near the market.

Seems like everyone knew where to meet. We were so honored to be included. Soon little children all dressed up in Christmas costumes began to arrive with their parents who were employees of La Mirage.

 

A pickup truck arrived with one of those huge speakers loaded in the back as they do in Ecuador.

Then the Christmas music began to play. The children were excited when Santa Clause arrived.

 

 

 

Then just as if a pied piper the truck began to slow motion and the children followed all the way to La Mirage.

Every now and then the parade stopped so that a little rocket could be ignited and the street showered with sparkler-like effects.

Finally the parade had arrived at the gates of La Mirage!

What a glorious sight and one that will always be embedded in my memory. After we all entered the grounds of La Mirage the parents attended a special Mass while the children played in the gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill and I had purchased candy which we gave to Santa to give to the children. So much fun the children had playing games with Santa. What child could resist playing in the La Mirage fountain? The simple joy of watching the children, parents, and fun made me remember those simpler uncomplicated times of my youth.

Merry Christmas

Favorite blog sites: Cotacachi Confidential

 

 

 

 

 

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