We’re working with MatadorNetwork to coordinate volunteer efforts in Haiti. You can follow updates on www.matadorchange.com or follow us on Twitter.

Francisco filmed this video at the Haitian Consulate in NYC today:

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos: Francisco Collazo
**
A cold snap seems to be blanketing the Northern hemisphere this week: Beijing had its coldest morning in 40 years according to the Associated Press. Matador colleagues Paul Sullivan, Lola Akinmade, and Andy Hayes are all rubbing their noses to keep warm over in Europe: Berlin, Stockholm, and Edinburgh, respectively. And my mom, down in South Carolina, is dressing in layers and probably sitting by the fire place.

Cold never stops New Yorkers, so Francisco was out in Central Park today, getting some winter shots:

You can see the rest of his Central Park photos here.

And if you want to see photos of other cities blanketed by snow, check out Hal Amen’s photo essay, Big Cities Under Snow.

Text & Photos: Francisco Collazo
Translation: Julie Schwietert Collazo
**

It’s the 6th of January, cold and windy. School kids gather on 106th Street and 5th Avenue to see the parade of camels, sheep, and men on stilts who wear masks and are very colorful. Today, New York celebrates Three Kings’ Day.

Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar are the names of the kings, if I remember correctly. According to my mother, the king that would bring my gifts was Baltazar, from Ethiopia. He was the black king, and the poorest one, too. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t choose which king would bring my gifts–the richest and most prosperous one, of course. Instead, the package I’d receive from my king would always have something like a pair of roller skates and a small gift: a box of marbles, miniature soldiers, or a cap gun.

I remember that the other kings brought bicycles, scooters, or giant train sets, complete with lights, passengers, and depots. The idea that Baltazar had chosen me and not that I’d chosen him really bugged me. What a disgrace to have the poor king! “What’s the point of being a king if you’re going to be poor?” is the question I always asked myself.

In New York, at least, it seems like the three kings are on an economic par. Baltazar tosses gold coins to everyone who waves at him. It’s a relief to me, really; at least things seem to have gotten better in his kingdom since I was a kid. The world economic crisis hasn’t affected him, nor has globalization, or the simple fact that he’s from Africa.

The observance of Three Kings’ Day is a tradition in many Spanish-speaking countries, a celebration that can be traced back to scripture. Matthew mentions the three wise men in the New Testament; these wise men are guided by a star to the manger of Jesus, where they offer gifts to the baby after his birth. To celebrate Three Kings’ Day, children send letters expressing their wishes, and they leave fresh grass and water for the camels, which will carry the kings and the presents to the homes of children on January 5.

Today’s celebration was coordinated by the Museo del Barrio, which offered many activities for the city’s children apart from the parade itself. Although the day was bitingly cold, the kids marched to the beat of the music and sang as they went. For many adults, their wishes for the day were to have a stable job and economic prosperity. For the young kids, of course, their desire was to have toys. And me? I recovered a piece of my childhood as I witnessed the festivities.

To see all of the Three Kings’ Day photos, click here.

*

Es un 6 de Enero frío y con viento. Los niños de las escuelas se reúnen alrededor de la calle 106 y la 5ta Avenida para ver el desfile de camellos, ovejas, y hombres gigantes llenos de disfraces, llenos de mucho colorido. Hoy se celebra en la ciudad de Nueva York el Día de los Reyes.

Melchor, Gaspar, y Baltazar son los nombres que recuerdo de estos tres reyes. Según mi madre el rey que me traería mis juguetes era Baltazar (de Etiopía, Africa), que era el rey negro y el mas pobre. Yo por mi parte no entendía porque no podía yo escoger el mas rico y el mas prospero- la bolsa que me tocaba traía siempre patines y un regalo pequeño: una caja de bolas, soldados en miniatura o una pistola de cintas de fulminantes.

Recuerdo que los otros reyes traían bicicletas, carriolas o inmensos trenes con lineas, semáforos, pasajeros en estaciones y todo. La idea que el me había escogido a mi y no yo a el, me molestaba. Que desgracia la de tener un rey pobre! Para que ser rey si vas a ser pobre?-siempre tuve esta pregunta en mi mente.

En Nueva York parece ser que los tres están a la par económicamente- Baltazar tiraba monedas de oro a todo el que le saludaba. Cosa esta que para mi fue como un alivio ver que por lo menos en su reinado ha habido cambio y mejoras, y sobre todo no lo había golpeado la crisis económica mundial, ni ha sido afectado por la globalizacion, ni por el hecho de vivir en Africa.

Las fiestas de los tres reyes son una tradición en muchos países que hablan español. Esta celebración esta atada a los pasajes bíblicos. San Mateo hace mención de los tres hombres sabios en el Nuevo Testamento donde estos reyes sabios se guían por una estrella para llevarles regalos al niño Jesús después de su nacimiento.

Para esta celebración los niños les envían cartas pidiéndoles deseos y le poner hierba fresca y agua de beber para los camellos que traerán los juguetes esa noche del 5 de Enero y comerán y beberán por solo una vez al año, en ese día, en esa noche.

Esta celebración fue coordinada por el Museo del Barrio que ofrecerá en su localidad muchas actividades para los niños en este día. Al final aunque muy frió los pequeños marcharon al compás de la música y cantos por toda la barriada. Para muchos de los mayores sus deseos para este día fueron un trabajo estable y prosperidad económica; para los mas pequeños pidieron sus juguetes y desearon un año próspero para ellos y sus amigos, recogiendo así un pedazo de su niñez para los recuerdos.

Para ver todas las fotos de la celebracion, haz clic aqui.

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photo: Francisco Collazo
*
I’m still organizing photos from 2008.
It’s an enormous task.

I came across this one today and just couldn’t stop staring at it or thinking about it. The boys of Mompox.

“Will you forget us like everyone else?” they asked us before we left.

How could we ever?

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos: Julie Schwietert Collazo & Francisco Collazo
**
I thought it would be impossible to top 2008, but here we are, on the first day of 2010, and as we take stock of 2009, we realize just how full and intense and incredible this last year was.

January

The first trip of the year was my work-related jaunt to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. I left there like I leave most places: wanting much more time to dig in deep and get to know and understand it. The trip to St. Kitts renewed my passion for Caribbean history and development, which had largely been dormant since leaving Puerto Rico and simultaneously putting my PhD studies on hold at the end of 2007. St. Kitts was also a special way to start 2009 because it was there that I learned I was probably pregnant!

From St. Kitts, Francisco and I headed to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama to the U.S. presidency. We were joined on our road trip by friends Emon Hassan and Kaitlin Foley. I led a group of students on an educational tour that culminated on the national lawn before the crack of dawn on the morning of the inauguration. Though I worried I’d lost my toes to the cold, I couldn’t have been happier to be a witness among hundreds of thousands of others to that historic moment.

February

In February, we said what we hope will be a temporary good-bye to Mexico City, as our residency visas were not renewed.

There was little time to process this huge move before I headed further south–this time to Brazil, to celebrate Carnaval in the cities of Recife, Olinda, and Pelourinho. While I enjoyed being a participant observer in the festivities, I was acutely aware of how the celebration is experienced differently because of race. Between my observations in St. Kitts and my experiences in Brazil, I was well on my way to making the decision to resume my doctoral studies.

March, April, and May

As winter wore off, we immersed ourselves into our city as never before: PEN World Voices Festival, the High Line, Governor’s Island… to name just a few.

June and July

The summer months were spent in Puerto Rico, our former home. In June, Francisco and I both led student tours for EF Smithsonian; in July, we conducted extensive research all over the island for an assignment for Fodor’s Puerto Rico (to be published in September 2010). B

August, September, and October

As the birth of our daughter, Mariel Paloma, approached, we revived our NYC immersion exercise. We visited museums we’d never entered before– the Museum of the American Indian, the NYC Police Museum, and the Museum of Chinese in America–and attended events like the Dragonboat Festival and Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival.

November

Boston and South Carolina were on the calendar for November. Boston for meetings and an emotional reunion with one of Francisco’s sons; South Carolina to celebrate Thanksgiving.

December

St. Thomas,

South Carolina, and

Florida:

Somehow, we managed to pack them all into December and touched down at home in NYC on New Year’s Eve, ready to welcome in 2010 at home!

What’s in store for 2010?
We never really know for sure, but Mariel’s first trip to Cuba is one possibility. We’ll be in South Carolina in June for my brother’s wedding. Puerto Rico never seems to be too far from our plans. And 2010 is definitely the year of America! We plan to explore the US like never before!

We’ll also be more faithful in updating this blog– both in content and in design. We have big plans for this year, so keep reading! And keep sharing your own stories with us, too.