'Tis the season

I'm always a little disappointed in the US about how short the Christmas season is.  Lucky for me, in the DR it starts a whole lot sooner.  Without the constraints of Thanksgiving, or even really Halloween, the preparations have hit the ground running.  Christmas lights have gone up in several balconies in my neighborhood.  Santa Claus door hangers and nativity images can be seen walking up the stairs.  Restaurants have artificial trees, fully decorated with lights, tinsel and ornaments by the door when you walk in.  

And the house cleaning has begun too.  My host mom has broken the house into sections and tackles one at a time.  First it was the floor- deep scrubbing the tile.  Next washing the curtains.  Our living room furniture is currently being reupholstered and the walls have been painted.  Our kitchen has been sterilized and now it is on to the bed rooms.  She even mentioned maybe rearranging my furniture, so I guess we'll see.

She explained this cleaning kick to me earlier this week.  Christmas is a time for renewal- emphasis on the new.  It's less about the presents on the actual day and more about family, so everyone makes sure their house is in tip-top shape for when the relatives arrive.  If nothing else it's one time a year where you know your whole house will get clean, clean, clean.

Also, these pictures where taken on October 29th.  Just saying.