Thank you to Lina Hernandez Valencia and Tibebu Kebede who contributed to this article.

As the days of December go by, the excitement for Christmas goes up. Stores are busy with people shopping for loved ones. Movies where the New York exec finds love and happiness in a Christmas-loving town in Vermont fill our screens. Trees and homes are decorated with all the lights and tinsel our hearts desire.

I myself enjoy the excuse to bake all the cookies possible and drink some cinnamon-topped eggnog, all while belting Silver Bells. But while these activities are fully a part of my holiday season, I also have other traditions I hold dear to my heart. Those my Venezuelan culture have gifted me.

In 1997, my parents decided to immigrate from Venezuela to the United States in search of a safer life for their family. I was two years old and did not realize that this one move would change the course of my life. Thanks to this difficult decision, I was able to live a life filled with opportunities. Opportunities that led me to a role at Medical Teams sharing the stories of many also in search of similar opportunities.

A Very Venezuelan Christmas

It’s been nearly 27 years since I’ve seen Venezuela, but she’s a beautiful country that still stars in my Christmas film. In Venezuela, the tradition is to celebrate on the 24th as you await the arrival of baby Jesus. The days before we are busy preparing food for our dinner – foods like pan de jamon (a bread roll with ham, raisins, and olives), quesillo (our version of flan), and hallacas (a plantain leaf-wrapped dough pocket of a mix of meats).

On Christmas Eve, my family dons their newest outfit and dresses to the nines. We set the table, share a blessing, and feast. The night continues with Venezuelan Christmas carols called gaitas, dancing, and counting down until midnight to rejoice in the birth of Jesus. We then open gifts, share conversations and laughs, and go to sleep. On Christmas Day, my mom and I have started our own tradition of staying in our Christmas pjs, eating leftovers, and watching all of the movies possible.

It’s an interesting mix of traditions, both American and Venezuelan. Traditions that have become a reflection of my own roots, a reminder of the sacrifices of my parents, and an ode to the hope and joy that always prevail.

This fusing of traditions got me thinking: what do other tradition-adaptions look like in our other country programs?

 

A Salvadoran Thanksgiving in Colombia

Bessie arrived in Colombia in 2021 to support the launch of the Medical Teams Colombia program as Grants Manager. At the time, she arrived with little more than her luggage and her faithful four-legged companion, Freddie Bonham Floyd — a dog she rescued in Iraq in 2019 and who has been by her side ever since.

Since then, Bessie has embraced Colombia as her new home. However, she often feels nostalgic for her family back in Los Angeles and her Salvadoran roots. To stay connected to her heritage, she seizes every opportunity to celebrate her culture and history in ways that bring her joy and fulfillment.

The holidays hold a special place in Bessie’s heart as her favorite time of the year. No matter where she is, she makes it a point to celebrate Thanksgiving. Since meeting her husband, Andrés, she began sharing with him and his family the love and meaning of Thanksgiving—a holiday that has become particularly significant to her. Since her arrival, Bessie has honored this tradition by preparing cherished family recipes passed down through generations. The star of the meal is Salvadoran-style turkey, a dish she learned to make from her aunt. Alongside this, her table is never without creamy potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and desserts that reflect her Salvadoran-American heritage.

Despite Thanksgiving not being a widely celebrated holiday in Colombia, Bessie makes it a meaningful occasion each year. She decorates her home, sets the table, and lovingly prepares her favorite dishes. She invites friends, colleagues, and Andrés’ family to join her in giving thanks for the blessings of the past year. Over time, Andrés and his family have embraced this tradition, often lending Bessie a hand in the kitchen as they prepare the feast together on the last Thursday of every November.

Through Thanksgiving, Bessie has found a beautiful way to weave together her Salvadoran roots, her American upbringing, and her life in Colombia. It’s a celebration that reflects not only her gratitude but also the deep connections she has built across cultures, family, and friends. Her table is more than a feast—it’s a symbol of love, tradition, and the power of shared moments to create a home, no matter where in the world you are.

 

The Spirit of Christmas Amidst the Makeshifts

Christmas, also known as Genna, is one of the most eagerly anticipated and profoundly celebrated spiritual festivities among Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia. Wondim Gebremedhin, a 40-year-old internally displaced person (IDP) is married and the father of four children. This is his story of his unique journey of celebrating this cherished holiday amidst the challenges of displacement.

Wondim was a successful merchant in Maikadra town, renowned for his entrepreneurial ventures. He owned three bread-baking machines, a snack bar, a youth recreation center, and three residential properties. His businesses employed 17 permanent staff, contributing significantly to the local economy. Wondim’s achievements earned him recognition from the Tigray regional government as one of the prominent middle-income-generating youth in the area.

When the devastating war erupted on November 4th, 2020, Wondim and his family were forced to flee, leaving all their belongings behind. They ended up in the makeshifts in one of the IDP sites in Shire town, the zonal capital of the northern-west zone of Tigray regional state, Ethiopia. This significantly changed how Wondim and his family receive and celebrate the Christmas festivities.

 

They had four Christmas celebrations in the IDP sites, amongst which the first (January 2021) was unbearable as it was so different from how they used to celebrate. It was celebrated with the sense of being “totally separated from the world” as there was a total communication blackout, and a sizeable number of their loved ones fled to Sudan as well. It was celebrated in makeshifts, relying on aid rations using shared wooden fire with other IDPs. Failing to fulfill his kids’ requests for new traditional clothes as he was able to previously, the conflict was heartbreaking. There was no laughter and enjoyment.

Wondim reassured his family, especially his children, that Christmas is not just about material celebrations but about faith, love, perseverance, and the strength to endure challenges. He expressed his hope and determination that they would soon return to the warmth of their home and once again celebrate this year’s Christmas and future holidays with the joy and traditions they cherish.

 

Warm Wishes to All

As we curl up under blankets and sip our hot cocoa, I think one thing we can agree on is that Wondim and Bessie are right about the holidays. Our joy doesn’t come from the taste of a traditional meal or from the presents underneath the tree. Instead, our joy comes from the memories, both old and new, that those traditions bring. It comes from the love and warmth felt among family, no matter how big or small, as we cherish these days we get with them. And it comes from the hope and peace that we are never alone, no matter the circumstance, with the presence and love of Jesus.

From all of us here at Medical Teams, we wish you all a merry Christmas regardless of how you celebrate.

If you want to join us in spreading hope and joy this holiday season, consider making a donation to Medical Teams International and bring comfort to those in need.

 

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Marysabel Cardozo 
Digital Asset Management Specialist, Medical Teams International

As our Digital Asset Management Specialist, Marysabel helps ensure that we have the content needed to share the important work that Medical Teams International does. She’s especially passionate about spotlighting the voices of those we serve. When she’s not working, Marysabel enjoys traveling, writing, and visiting coffee shops.