Needless to say, tears welled in my eyes with happy childhood memories of the Purisimas my family and I attended. The sounds, smells, tastes wafted through my mind. The happy voices in prayer, the songs of praise to Mary, and after all the praying and singing...the feasting. Of course, it depended on where you went. Sometimes you'd get a wonderful meal of traditional Nicaraguan fare- nacatamales, vigoron. Or, just sweets...American candy and homemade Nicaraguan treats...candy made with coco, milk caramels, pastries such as empanadas filled with pineapple or raisins and meat or chicken with cinnamon. Oh, the smell was divine and the taste too good for the senses. And the favorite beverage was chicha de maiz, a fermented corn beverage that was very sweet and delicious...ice cold and colored pink (red dye, I believe.)
I miss these traditional celebrations in my family. It was a wonderful thing to look forward to the beginning of December for these celebrations. The 8th of December is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, but the 7th is the night of "La Griteria" or the shouting. The traditional greeting is "¿Quien causa tanta alegria? ¡La Concepcion de Maria!" "Who causes such joy? The Conception of Mary!"
OK...it looses in the translation.
So, my friends, if you ever encounter a Nicaraguan or get a chance to go to a Nicaraguan restaurant, try to savor the delicacies that make December a joyous time of year in Nicaragua.
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