The Gift
The Gift The Gift Lupe ran home from the school bus stop. It was the last day of classes before winter break, and she was very excited about her family trip. She was going to Mexico to visit her grandmother for Christmas. It had been a whole year since she had seen her abuela, which means grandmother in Spanish. The trip was always fun for Lupe because she got to practice her Spanish and visit many different fun places in Mexico. She also got to spend time with her cousins and hear stories about
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The Gift
The Gift
Lupe ran home from the school bus stop.It was the last day of classes before winter break, and she was very excited about her family trip.She was going to Mexico to visit her grandmother for Christmas.It had been a whole year since she had seen her abuela, which means grandmother in Spanish.The trip was always fun for Lupe because she got to practice her Spanish and visit many different fun places in Mexico.She also got to spend time with her cousins and hear stories about when her mother was a little girl.
Lupe's family lived in Phoenix, Arizona.Her abuela lived in northern Mexico, a short distance from Phoenix.Every year at Christmas Lupe's family drove to see Abuela.
Lupe loved the drive. She would pack the trunk with gifts for her cousins, aunts, and uncles.The gift that she got for Abuela was always the most special.Lupe would spend lots of time thinking about it.She missed her Abuela greatly and wanted to make sure she knew how much she loved her.
The Christmas celebration was important in Lupe's family.It was the only time of year that they got to see Abuela.That made Lupe put even more effort into selecting her abuela's present.
This year, Lupe had decided that her Christmas gift to Abuela would be a special book of recipes.She wanted to show her gratitude for all the wonderful times she had spent cooking dishes in Abuela's kitchen.Lupe had worked hard to write down each recipe using her best handwriting.Next to each entry she had added a photograph.Each photograph showed Lupe at home holding up the dish that she had prepared from each recipe.
Lupe had had a fun time putting together her special book of recipes.Every week she cooked something new from her recipe collection.Every week she had her mother take a picture of her in front of her latest creation.Lupe was astonished at how well her book had turned out.
For Lupe, the best part of visiting Abuela was the time they spent together in the kitchen.Abuela's kitchen was a very special place.There were always wonderful smells wafting around in it.And you could always find a variety of delicious Mexican treats tucked away here and there.
As much as Lupe liked those things, what she cherished most of all about her time in Abuela's kitchenwere the hours when Abuela would tell her stories about Mexico.For as long as Lupe could remember, Abuela had told her stories.The stories had become family tradition.
Another family tradition involved the baking of the Rosca de Reyes. Rosca de Reyes is a pastry.Made from sweet bread, it is twisted into a round braid and decorated with candied fruits.The fruits and round braid make it look like a king's crown.
In Mexico, the Rosca de Reyes is made to celebrate the sacred Festival of the Three Kings,which happens twelve days after Christmas.The Rosca de Reyes is always the centerpiece of the Mexican holiday dinner table.
In years past, Lupe had not been old enough to help bake the Rosca de Reyes. This year would be different.Abuela and Lupe's mother knew that Lupe was now ready to help with the baking. It was difficult to make.But Lupe's mother had learned how to make the Rosca de Reyeswhen she was Lupe's age, as had Abuela. So now was the time!
You couldn't make Rosca de Reyes without telling the story of the Three Kings.It was a story that Lupe had heard many times.Twelve days after Christmas, on January 6,people in Mexico celebrate the procession of the Three Kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.These three kings had brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus.In Mexico, January 6 is the day set aside for the distribution of the childrens' Christmas gifts.
On the eve of the festival, Mexican children leave their shoes on the windowsill.They fill the shoes with hay for the kings' camels.This ensures that the camels are happy and that the kings will leave the children gifts.Lupe always left her shoe on the windowsill, hoping to please the camels.
Lupe enjoyed the procession of the Three Kings.At times she felt sad, because so few families in Phoenix celebrated the wonderful holiday.But here in Mexico, Abuela's entire community took part in the event.It made Lupe feel like she was connected to something special.
As soon as Lupe entered Abuela's home, memories of all the previous Christmas celebrations came rushing back to her.The smell of Abuela's famous hot chocolate filled the air, blending with the sweet smell of the wood stove.Lupe could hardly contain her excitement as she said hello to everyone and unpacked all of the gifts she had brought.Lupe sat down by the hearth afterwards.This was another of her favorite activities at Abuela's house.The hearth had a wonderful smell that was nearly as good as that of the hot chocolate.Lupe loved to stare at its glowing coals and soak up their warmth.
After a while the hearth became too warm to sit by.So Lupe got up and bounced into the warm and inviting kitchen, following the scent of the chocolate.Abuela stood waiting in the kitchen.She knew that her granddaughter would show up there eventually!
Lupe said to Abuela, "I could smell the chocolate as soon as I entered the house!" Abuela smiled.She said, "I had remembered how much you liked my hot chocolate.So I prepared some for you, along with another of your favorite treats. Try some!"
Abuela handed Lupe a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a churro.Churros are made of dough and covered in sugar and cinnamon.They had a crispy, crunchy taste that Lupe found irresistible.And dunking them in Abuela's hot chocolate only made them better!
