Candle's Day

 Nicol Garcia

September 27, 2020

ESL 100

Final Draft

Candle’s Day

Candle’s Day is the favorite holiday for most Colombians. Each December 8th is one of the most important and fun holidays of the year, but the fun end when I arrived to live in Chicago. Since I have been living in Chicago, it has been impossible to celebrate my favorite holiday. Besides, when I arrived in the United States, I realized most was like my original country. Candle’s Day will always be my favorite holiday even though I cannot celebrate in Chicago because of the different traditions and customs.

When I lived in Colombia, my whole family and I met at my grandmother’s house to celebrate Candle’s Day. Usually, everybody comes to grandma’s house the previous night. Even though it is a tiny house, everybody found a bed to sleep in. I always slept with my five cousins in the same queen bed. My cousins and I hardly slept because we spent the night telling jokes and telling horror stories. Those were the best nights for me. The next morning, we got up at 12pm or even 1:30 pm, and the rest of the family was ready. We just waited for the night to come to eat and light candles. Since I have been living in Chicago, Candle’s Day is not the same. My uncles, my aunts, my cousins are not here, and even the tiny grandmother’s house is not here. My parents try to make this day fun, but nothing will be the same. Sometimes I get sad because I know my favorite date of the year will not be celebrated like before.

Additionally, the most traditional food in Candle’s Day is the Buñuelos, Natilla, and Colombian tamales. I love December for tasty food. The Colombian tamales that my grandmother made were the most delicious. The tamales are our breakfast and would eat accompanied by hot chocolate and special bread. Besides, at midnight we eat Buñuelos and Natilla. I always fought with my cousins for the last Buñuelo because my grandmother just made a few of them. For me, it was the best food is in Colombia. On the contrary, in Chicago, just a few stores sell Colombian products to make Buñuelos and Natilla, and I cannot find any restaurant to buy them. It is to hard to eat my favorite meal in a city that does not even sell it. Otherwise, if I found one the taste is totally different. That is why I am one hundred percent sure Colombian food is the best for me.

In the same way, Candle’s Day is a great day to do many activities to have fun. On the morning of December 8th, my uncle had to find the ingredients to make the meals, and my aunts went to the beauty salon. In the meantime, my cousins and I went to buy candles, candies, and more candies. At 4:00 pm everyone was ready with our best clothes on. Music was one of the main parts of this day, so from morning until the next day, the music was playing out loudly. We started to light candles around 8. Moreover, we played with fireworks, but we must be careful because in Colombia it is kind of illegal. When the candles were finished, it means time for the party. And then, the whole family even the whole neighborhood was dancing, and drinking some beer. During my first year in Chicago, I tried to do almost the same activities, but my parents were working. I was in school, so I tried to make this day seem like any other. I did not even buy a candle, and we did not even dance. Now Candle’s Day for us is as common as any other day. Sadness, my favorite holiday in Chicago does not even exist, and I cannot even celebrate.

Since I left Colombia and move to Chicago, I have forgotten how to get a great family time and eat the delicious Colombian food. I forgot the peace that I feel knowing that my family is fine, and I can see it. It is sad to not celebrate this day as a tradition for the past two years ago, and it will surely be so for many more. In the same way, it is hard to think all I must do to really feel adapted to a new country. The weather, the customs of this country, the different taste of food, and the distance that my family is, do not allow me to celebrate Candle’s Day. I promise to my family that all this sacrifice will be reflected in my future. I trust in God that I will see my family again soon to celebrate with them.