Merry Christmas!

We are finally in Riga, and have experienced a very Latvian Christmas celebration. My relatives have been so gracious and kind and have included us in all of the family traditions. When we arrived in Riga, we were pretty wiped- Rome was amazing (I will tell more about that later)- but there was no time to be tired because Christmas festivities were in full swing at the house. We unloaded our stuff, but immediately got to work making gingerbread cookies, and helping Ieva prepare the big meal. We had to pick Stephanie up from the airport (she couldn't get a flight into Riga, so she flew into Vilnius, Lithuania, and took a bus into Riga) and then we went straight to Christmas Eve Mass. We didn't understand a single word, but could kind of sing along with the songs we recognized. During the sermon, we were trying so hard not to laugh because EVERYONE was falling asleep, even the other church leaders on stage. It was pretty comical that the only ones really paying attention were the three Americans sitting in the front who could not understand a single word being said.

Then we came back and continued to help Ieva prepare the meal. Stephanie and I won the award for slowest potato peelers EVER. I'm pretty sure Ieva could have peeled them in half the time that it took both of us to do it. I have a feeling I will become a master potato peeler by July.

Finally, Christmas dinner was ready. In Latvia, it is traditional to set out nine dishes on the table. I'm not really sure why. So our nine dishes were delicious Latvian pork, goose wings, this bean and sour cream salad, traditional dark Latvian bread, broiled potatoes, saurkraut with bacon, olives I brought back from Spain, bread with duck pate, and little clementine oranges. We had a feast. Then we had wine, coffee, and this delicious Latvian cake. Everyone had a little foobie (food-baby) by the end of the night.

Then we had a little visitor ring the doorbell, and it was SANTA!! He came in with a big bag of gifts. This is pretty traditional in Latvia. On Christmas Eve, a neighbor that does not have kids comes to the house dressed as Santa, and brings in all of the gifts- they do not differentiate between presents brought by Santa and presents from family members- and pulls them out one by one. As your name is called on the gift, you have to perform for Santa, either by singing a song, dancing a traditional dance, or reciting a poem or something. If you do well enough, Santa gives you a present. It was great fun, and all of us Americans had to perform twice. Much laughter and happiness filled the room.

Today we slept in so late, the latest I have ever slept in for Christmas morning. We went to the Old Town of Riga, and walked through the christmas markets there, where people come to sell their goods. Latvian children were performing traditional songs, and it put us in the christmas spirit.

We came home to another delicious goose dinner, and then Skyped our loved ones back home, who were just beginning their Christmas festivities.

There is nothing like Christmas time.