End-of-year nostalgia from the immigrant's perspective
- Dec 15, 2025
- 2 min read
This will be my 23rd Christmas in Colorado. Twenty-three Christmases I've spent away from Guatemala. And although time passes, there is nostalgia that never fades; it simply learns to accompany us in silence.
In Colorado, Christmas is beautiful. Picture-perfect. Snow-covered pine trees, perfect lights, the smell of cinnamon and sugar, markets, concerts, and walks in the cold. Everything is orderly, beautiful, almost impeccable. On the 24th, everyone goes to bed early; on the 25th, they wake up to presents, breakfast with family, and a peaceful day enjoyed without haste.
In Guatemala, Christmas isn't just something you see: it's something you experience. And it's experienced with joyful commotion.
From mid-December, the posadas (traditional Christmas processions) fill neighborhoods and towns. The rhythmic beat of the drums announces that someone is coming to seek shelter. The door opens, ponche is served, and tamales are shared. "Let's eat a tamal" is more than just food: it's shared time, hospitality, a sense of belonging.
'Nochebuena' reaches its peak at midnight: the hugs, the gifts, the fireworks, the music, the neighbors coming and going. December 25th is for recovering, eating leftovers with 'pan francés', shaking off the hangover, and sleeping without guilt.
After so many years away, I still miss the same things: the traditions, the family, the friends, and the food. We still wait for the call from Guatemala at midnight, with so much noise in the background that the voices are barely distinguishable amidst the fireworks.
Christmas in Guate smells of gunpowder, like the Fourth of July here. That smell that leaves a haze in the air and that, for me, is still pure magic.
Perhaps that's why those of us who migrate spend our lives recreating home wherever we can. With flavors, with aromas, with little rituals that bring us, even just a little bit, closer to what we left behind.
This Christmas, we look forward to seeing you at the Café. To share a warm cup of coffee, take home something special, and, hopefully, take a little piece of Christmas home with you too. 🎄☕
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