FAMILY VACATIONS
Although December is a holiday date, it is up to each person to decide how to spend their days, in my case I usually take advantage of these dates to connect with my dearest relatives and create new memories through anecdotes and photography for my cousins.
24th of december
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On December 24, my paternal family held an intimate celebration to celebrate family togetherness. We gathered at my older cousin's house and began to share our daily experiences, from the challenges of the school season to the worries and fears that plague us on a daily basis, only to become more animated with my older cousin's unfunny jokes, unleashing laughter and joy in all of us.
In the midst of this warm atmosphere, we decided to relive moments of the past through family albums, turning this gesture into a ritual to remember the significant moments that were immortalized in photographs, while also taking the opportunity to remember those loved ones who are no longer with us, but still remain in our memories.
This moment is especially emotional for me, as listening to the anecdotes of my older relatives, full of affection and joy, makes me reflect on the strength of family ties and the love that continues to vibrate in each of their hearts.
It is a poignant reminder of how close my family is and the love that endures over time. Each story shared strengthens our connection and fills us with gratitude for the family legacy that binds us together.
31th of december
On December 31, I have the opportunity to meet with my maternal family to celebrate the arrival of the new year together.
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Despite the approximately 12 hours of travel I have to do to get to their meeting, since it is at the opposite end of the country, the sentimental value of sharing these moments with them far outweighs any sacrifice and the large number of family members, which are about 25 people, creates a lively and bustling atmosphere that fills the space with love and joy.
During this reunion, we gather around a large table to enjoy a special family dinner, which consists of a main dish made up of the traditional Venezuelan hallaca, accompanied by ham bread, chicken salad and pernil (pork leg).
These delicious delicacies are the perfect complement to an evening full of laughter and pleasant conversations, because as you know, a full belly makes for a happy heart.
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The excitement takes over especially the children, who enjoy lighting fireworks and showing off their new clothes given to them by Baby Jesus.
My aunts and uncles, their wives and cousins are also immersed in the joy of the moment, toasting and sharing anecdotes of how each of them prepared for the big night, while laughing at the memories of past celebrations.
Personally, I take the opportunity to capture these unforgettable moments with my camera, as photographs allow me to preserve precious memories that might otherwise fade with time. These images are not only a treasure for me, but also allow me to share the happiness and togetherness of our family with other loved ones, such as my cousins in Colombia.
Each photograph captures the essence and warmth of our family union, conveying a message of love and well-being that transcends borders and is capable of transmitting the love that exists within the family.
Traditional January 2nd
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As it is important for me the 24th and 31st of December, so is the 1st or 2nd of January, since it is a family tradition for my mom's family to make another great second meeting in any river; which for this year is the one named Pozo Azul located in Amazonas, to swim, play both in and out of the water while a great sancocho is made for the whole family.
To end this publication, I must say that this initiative to show my family meeting through the platform arises with the idea of being able to create a written memory for both users and my family, as it will always be on the network and my little cousins can appreciate it every time they want to grow old.
The love I have for my two families is great and even though each one has its own culture, traditions, anecdotes and personalities, they are still a very crucial part of my life, because I know that their love is pure and true as I understand that despite the long distances or how busy the work agenda may be, sharing family has a great sentimental value.
- Cover photo editing application: Canva.