Publication Date
11-13-2025
Abstract
Brenda Ovalle was born in 1983 and spent most of her life in El Paso, Texas. Having moved between Mexico, California, and back to El Paso throughout her childhood and early teen years, she has celebrated Christmas differently based on where her and her family lived. In Mexico, her family celebrated Christmas with posadas. In El Paso and California, she celebrated with her family with familiar gatherings and dinner.
Traditional Mexican Christmas foods have always meant a lot to her and her family. Brenda shares her upbringing and how life in each location affected her school life and Christmas traditions. Brenda shares her experiences celebrating Christmas in three separate locations; from posadas to familial dinners, she celebrated Christmas yearly with tamales, buñuelos, and ponche de Navidad. The traditional foods are made from recipes passed down multiple generations. Brenda shares the importance of each food and how they shape her family’s Christmas celebrations. The family traditions she celebrated always prioritized family and sharing meals during Christmas.
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