Every christmas since I could remember my family has always gathered together at the table around 11:30pm on Christmas eve and said a prayer to thank god for the food we are able to have that night, any other day before and after that, for our health, and just the fact that we are able to have everyone there. My family is pretty big and somehow we manage to have everyone to have a space at the table even my grandfather even though he passed away almost two years ago we always leave a spot free for him and put the plates in his place. After we prayed we ate, I still remember how loud we all are, the laughter and smiles are seen and heard everywhere at the dining table. The different conversations happening, trying to hear each other over one another and over the background music. A traditional food for Christmas that my family has always been cooking is rice with corn, turkey and relleno navideño. My grandma used to always cook this, it’s a traditional plate we have done for over 19 years. My grandfather’s favorite part of Christmas gatherings was having all of us together and eating the sweets, because of him we started the tradition of drinking hot chocolate with pan de pascua, he loved that. My grandma also made flan and jello for us to have. But now that she is older and can’t do much, the cooking duty has been passed on to my mom, she is the one that wakes up 5-6am on christmas eve to start cooking so that everything could be ready by the night. She has this tradition of seasoning the turkey three days early and leaves it in the refrigerator so it can marinate better and when the day comes all she needs to do is put it in the oven. I love waking to the smell of turkey baking, I think that is the best part of the traditions, being together enjoying every part of the food and knowing we always have those there by our side no matter the situation.