Christmas Memories Wrapped Around Tamale Tradition

Summary

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There were always enough but not a whole lot of gifts under the tree when I was growing up in San Bernardino, Calif. Rarely absent, however, was a tradition that even without material abundance nonetheless helped make the Christmas season for my brothers and me.

In a word: tamales.

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Christmas Memories Wrapped Around Tamale Tradition

For me, the word conjures more than remembrances of meaty tastiness wrapped in a corn husk. It invokes memories of family togetherness, of a warm kitchen reverberating with incessant family chatter and laughter.

Sometimes it was just my immediate family in that kitchen. Other times, it included extended family and friends.

I sometimes wonder how I could have such fond remembrances. Broken down into its parts, tamale-making could very well fit some folks' notions of drudgery.

It is labor intensive, particularly if you're dealing in volume. My family sometimes dealt in volume because we'd give tamales as gifts to neighbors, family and friends.

I su...

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