December 24th
Christmas Eve in Argentina kicked off with family, food, and festivities right from the start. The weather didn’t exactly cooperate, with thunder and rain as our background for most of the day—but we made the most of it by diving straight into food prep. La abuela, Fabi, Nai, and I got busy slicing up heaps of fresh fruit for two massive fruit salads. Pineapple, kiwi, oranges, nectarines, apples, and bananas, all tossed with either orange juice or Ananá Fizz, a pineapple champagne drink that was dangerously good.
Lunch was a quick stop at the mall for something easy to eat and, as one might suspect, some last-minute shopping. Later in the afternoon, Nai’s uncle and cousins arrived, and we all squeezed in a siesta to gear up for what we knew would be a late night. Once rested, it was back to the kitchen. Nai and I took on the task of making veggie sandwiches de miga—soft, crustless tea sandwiches filled with mayonnaise, ham, cheese, and veggies. Everyone was shocked to learn that these sandwiches aren’t a thing where I’m from (or at least not eaten like they are here). You can find sandwiches de miga just about anywhere here, though—any party or bakery is bound to have them. While they’re good, I wouldn’t call them life-changing, but I can understand the nostalgic and cultural love they carry here.
By 10 pm, we were dressed up, pouring drinks, and setting the table at the quincho (a quincho is a covered outdoor space with a grill, that’s used for gatherings and asados. The Tymkiws have another building behind their house with a guest room and large dining table perfect for hosting!) Music was playing, and the evening was in full swing with food, desserts, tequila shots, dancing, karaoke, and lots of laughter. At midnight, Christmas Day officially began, and we celebrated with champagne and hugs all around. The party didn’t wind down and, if anything, it picked up momentum. Around 3 a.m., Nai and I headed out with some of her friends, ending up at a previa (pre-party) before joining a massive outdoor Christmas celebration. The music was loud, the crowd was energetic, and we danced into the morning hours.
By the time we got home around 6 am, the sun was coming up, and hunger hit hard. Thankfully, those little sandwiches de miga were waiting for us in the fridge. After a night like that, they really hit the spot—I might have a new appreciation for them now, lol.
