Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)

The 24th of December, Christmas Eve, is a big evening here.  Everything closes, people have a big meal with their families and then at midnight, people open gifts and then go out to the streets and parks and celebrate with their friends.

This is also my first Christmas as a Jew, and since I'm living with a Buddhist who doesn't care for much of the Christmas traditions, and I wasn't invited to anyone participating in any of the aforementioned festivities, it was fairly easy to have a quiet evening.  Hugo made a nice dinner, we ate in the dining room (after lighting 4th night candles), and after we heard fireworks go off, we took a walk to the park and saw some of the energy there, kids playing with new toys, more fireworks, friends laughing.  Although I was more an observer than participant, it felt pretty comfortable.