A world of tradition
Those who call Hall County home come from varied backgrounds, with different beliefs, traditions and cultures.
This Christmas season, The Times celebrates that diversity with a look at seven individuals who have come here from different countries.
Over the next week, we'll explore Christmas traditions from their home countries and also talk about what has brought them to North Georgia.
When Cecilia Denegri first moved from Peru to the United States, she noticed many of the same Christmas traditions from back home.
Families came and cooked together and Santa Claus was still portrayed as the long-bearded man in a large red jacket. There were even the same friendly competitions between neighbors to assemble the best Christmas displays.
But rather than highlight Christmas trees or lights, the focal point for most Peruvians are the nativity scenes, she said.
"The nativity is the most important thing. The Christmas tree is second," Denegri said. "You'll see competitions in some neighborhoods."
For 18 years, Denegri has taught Spanish at Gainesville High School. Around the holiday season, she said she'll often recall Christmas memories of Peru to share with her students.
"I teach English speakers and native speakers, and among the native speakers, none are from Peru," she said. "We like to compare our traditions."
Denegri said she and her family moved to the U.S. 31 years ago, after her husband was offered a job in the poultry industry. At the time she had 4-year-old and 5-year-old daughters.
In Peru, Denegri said she worked in public relations but found her degree wasn't helpful for her new life in America.
"I didn't know any English and in public relations, a lot of it is working with people," she said.
Instead, Denegri began tutoring Spanish classes at Brenau University and realized she had an even greater career passion.
She said from that point, she was determined to become a teacher.
"I was teaching at Brenau to help pay for my studies and attending to my home. It was a full-time job," she said.
After her years spent at Gainesville High, Denegri she couldn't call anyplace else home now. Her three daughters grew up in Gainesville and now live with their own families in various cities across the state.
However, for holidays, Denegri still employs many of her traditions from Peru.
Denegri will celebrate Christmas with relatives on Christmas Eve, also known as "Noche Buena." After the smaller kids are sent to bed, the adults celebrate late into the night and early morning with a party and music, she said.
"We party until midnight and then we eat. We don't eat before then," she said.
The Christmas meals usually consist of turkey, ham and apple sauce. Denegri said panettone is another staple in many households. "That with hot chocolate has to be present for the night before Christmas and breakfast.
It's a sweet bread with raisins and dried fruit; but it's not like fruitcake," Denegri said.
One thing Denegri misses about Peru at Christmas time is the warm weather. Peru is in the southern hemisphere and summers begin in December. After the Christmas festivities are finished, Denegri said many families travel to the beach.
"Just as people couldn't imagine a Christmas without snow, I couldn't imagine a Christmas with snow," she said.
Rather than buy individual gifts this year, Denegri said her family has decided to use the money for a trip to the beach. They plan to go when the weather warms up.