Apus Peru Adventure Travel specialise in unique treks to little known places – their routes cross remote mountain ranges, skirt around snow capped peaks and visit out of the way communities. Yet their latest offerings – Christmas hikes – take the idea of participative tourism to a new level.
"Religious services take up much of the day on Christmas in Argentina. Carols may be sung by groups going from house to house or by the family gathered around a piano."
Christmas traditions and childhood memories.
"One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word origins from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil (Bahia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Maranhão, Ceará, Pernambuco, Piauí and Alagoas)."
"One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word origins from the word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem."
"Chile's gift-bringer is called Viejo Pascuero, or Old Man Christmas."
Celebrating the Nino Manuelito, the Andean version of the Baby Jesus, in Cusco is an eye-opening and heart-filling experience for the author.
"Colorful processions take place on Christmas Day in Ecuador as the people who live in the mountains dress in their finest clothes and ride brightly arrayed llamas down to the ranches of their employers."
Christmas in Ecuador is a colorful celebration incorporating traditional religious events with local traditions. Enjoy the festive Pase del Niño Viajero in Cuenca and the Pesebres, novenas, Cena de Nochebuena and Misa del Gallo in Quito and other Ecuadorian communtities and top off the holiday season with the Fiesta de Año Viejo.
"In Guyana, everyone decorates extensively with lots of lights for Christmas. According to tradition there is no display of decorations until Christmas Eve."
Christmas celebrations in Peru are a combination of traditions brought over from Spain and the traditions of the native American experience. There are parties and fiestas everywhere and homes are overflowing with hospitality.
Christmas in Salvador, Bahia is a combination of religious celebrations, ethnic traditions and pageantry. You're sure to enjoy the festivities, but no matter where you are for the season, Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Nova!
Throughout South America Christmas is celebrated in a deeply religious way. The main focus of the season throughout the continent is the presepio ("the manger").
"The Christmas season begins in Venezuela on December 16th when families bring out their pesebres and display them in the most prominent part of the living room."
Christmas novenas and the celebration of the Three Kings are among the customs described for South America.
Christmas traditions in Brazil, with links to festivities in other countries.
History of Christmas, music, stories and links to traditional Latin American Christmas recipes.
A book and CD celebrating Hispanic traditions with a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to set up scholarship funds for Latin American children.
These books cover a wide range of interests, from Crhistmas, holidays, weddings, celebrations of the dead and shamanism.
