I love this holiday season. It is a great time to spend with family, and catch up with friends, and there are plenty of seasonal activities throughout the month of December to keep me occupied. However, this month can also be a stressful time. Everyone is either out shopping, decorating their homes, planning vacations, or making lists of resolutions as we enter the New Year. A way that helps me to get into the spirit of the season is by reading a good book. That being said, here are a few Latin stories to help you get into the holiday spirit.
Las Christmas: Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memories by Esmeralda Santiago and Joie Davidow
This book is a perfect choice to help get readers into the holiday spirit because it allows them to witness the holidays through the eyes of different authors in the Latin community as they share their favorite holiday traditions, recipes, poems, songs, and emotions about the season. When I was younger I wished that this book was on the shelf of my school library because readers can immerse themselves in the different types of Latin Christmas and other holidays that some Latinos celebrate in December like Hanukkah, Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, and Las Posadas.
When Christmas Feels Like Home by Gretchen Griffith
If you’ve ever moved to a new place as a child, it can be difficult to adapt to the new environment especially if you’ve ever moved during the holidays. A young boy from Mexico is celebrating Christmas in a new home. While he’s in his new town he is able to teach his new friends about his family traditions as well as learn from them about some of their traditions. This heartwarming story shows readers that you can still keep your family traditions and make room for new ones.
The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
If you’re the type of reader that enjoys enemies-to lovers, or holiday romances then this first pick is just for you! After accidentally switching phones two co-workers who despise each other have learned secrets about the other that could potentially bring them closer together. This holiday tale is a good way to get into the holiday spirit because this book is filled with moments of light-hearted humor and a heartwarming narrative.
Mr. Ives’ Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos
The next book on this list, although it is emotional, it keeps the readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end, more importantly, the moral of this story is it reminds readers to always be grateful for the ones they have in their lives. The story follows various Christmas throughout the life of a man named Edward Ives. Edward Ives has it all: a successful career, a loving family, a deep-rooted belief in God, and a love of the Christmas season. But after the tragic death of his son one Christmas Eve, everything changes. This beautifully written piece exemplifies the hardships of grief and expresses the meaning of renewed faith, family, love, and forgiveness.
Sometimes the chaos of the holidays can consume your time and energy that you’re ready for the season to be over as quickly as it came. I’d encourage you to take time for yourself and relax with a good holiday novel. It’s a great way to decompress from stress and it might remind you of some of the things you love about this time of year.
