Tamales: A Christmas Tradition Wrapped in History Every December, as the smell of cinnamon and pine fills the air, another scent makes its way into many Latino homes—the warm, savory aroma of tamales steaming on the stove. For as long as I can remember, Christmas hasn’t truly begun until the tamales are on the table.Continue reading “Tamales: Christmas Tradition / Tamales: Una tradición navideña”
Author Archives: Alicia Salazar
Nicholas of Myra / Nicolás de Mira
Warning!: Christmas spoilers! Not for anyone who still believes in Santa Claus! I hear jingle bells! My favorite holiday of the year is almost here, and with it comes the magic and wonder of the season. But in my family, that magic never came from a man in a red suit flying down the chimney.Continue reading “Nicholas of Myra / Nicolás de Mira”
Celebrating Culture & Color with Author/Illustrator Nomar Perez
A Letter of Gratitude to My Family / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mi Familia
A Letter of Gratitude to My Family My family has been my constant through every season of my life. They took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself — first as a child, and later as an adult living with mental illness. They didn’t have to. Many families don’t. But mine did.Continue reading “A Letter of Gratitude to My Family / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mi Familia”
A Letter of Gratitude to My Challenges / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mis Desafíos
A Letter of Gratitude to My Challenges As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking not only about the blessings in my life, but also about the things that, for many years, I never imagined I’d be grateful for — my challenges. I started out life with the world at my feet, or so it seemed. ButContinue reading “A Letter of Gratitude to My Challenges / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mis Desafíos”
A Letter of Gratitude to My Mother / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mi Madre
As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings in my life, and one stands above all: you, Mom. You were the one who opened the door to stories. I still remember those early trips to the library — my small hand tucked safely in yours, the hush of pages turning, the thrillContinue reading “A Letter of Gratitude to My Mother / Una Carta de Gratitud a Mi Madre”
All Soul’s Day / Día de los Muertos
A Poem for My Father on All Souls Day On Día de los Muertos, the veil softens — not gone, but thin enough to let a whisper slip through. I feel you near, in the hush of the church pews, in the cool rosary beads sliding through my fingers, in the sharp scent of wetContinue reading “All Soul’s Day / Día de los Muertos”
Bilingual Book Buddies: Episode 13 – Interview with Maritere Bellas
Día de los Muertos v Halloween
When I was researching my book Día de los Muertos, I stumbled upon a surprising fact I had never heard before: some people believe that Halloween and Día de los Muertos are the same holiday. At first, I was shocked. Growing up bicultural, I always knew they were as different as peas and carrots. ButContinue reading “Día de los Muertos v Halloween”