Generations of my family have celebrated Melchorita and it is something that I have grown up with. Melchorita is about a woman named Melchora Saravia Tasayco, a Franciscan who dedicated her entire life to the care of the poor and sick in Peru. Many believe in the possible miracles that she can perform and my family is no exception. This celebration is something I remember vividly - reading the gospels, performing Peruvian dances and eating a special food which is the greatest symbol of this tradition, the “carapulcra con sopa seca”. This event is held every January, and all participants sign an attendance sheet and at the end of the night the guest family delivers the picture with the portrait of “the melchorita” to the family in charge of organizing the celebration next year. What impressed me a lot is that the more the family expands the more chance we have to continue celebrating this important tradition because each of the members must organize the celebration. It was almost my turn to be in charge of the organization of the next event; however, immigrating to the United States has prevented this from happening. To be honest, I would have loved to be part of something that I have always seen and appreciated, the 18 years of my life have been shaped by these memories, the most beautiful moments, the joy and nostalgia now prevail in my memory, now they are just images in my mind but I hope that someday I will be able to celebrate again what for years made me so happy.

– JS.

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant