We celebrated our holiday in our normal fashion: a tree with no ornaments- just lights- because we have a puppy in the house. Gifts given and received. We even had some of our dear friends over for a wonderful holiday feast!
One of the fun parts of our Christmas this year is that we gave gifts to each other purchased only locally at our store in Aniak. It was a challenge to see what things to buy for each other considering we know all of the products and items we have! One of the things I bought for Mark was a fur hat that is locally called a mulahai or mulakai. It was made by a woman from Grayling, AK who is one of the best at skin sewing in the Kusko delta. I was also able to buy him some clothing and other fun items such as ear protectors to muffle the sound from the gun and also gun cleaning tools.
I received a beautiful fur purse and other fun items!
Just when we were winding down from our Christmas.....New Years came upon us. Traditionally in our village on New Years Eve there are fireworks and then at midnight people go out into their yards and shoot their guns into the air for about a half an hour or so. New Years is a cause for great celebration and shooting guns is one of the ways that they show it! Luckily no one was injured and only one person shot their power lines down which was cause for a lot of ribbing from the rest of the folks!
The holiday is season is over. We had a wonderful time. I learned how to say Merry Christmas/Happy New Year in Yupik (it sounds like brazniga) and I met many new people from other villages I would not have met otherwise. It was a joy to be a part of a native tradition that is looked forward to and delighted in each year in our village.
What a wonderful newsy update. I love your gifts to each other, so beautiful, using the fur of God's creatures. Wow! I recognize the quilted table runner too:)
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the earlier pictures you posted about the Russian Orthodox Christian celebration.
I'm glad you are still enjoying your new experiences "up north".
Love, Mom
Great update Beth! I love these :)
ReplyDelete