Each family has its own traditions, which make it unique and wonderful—a true genetic treasure.
On my mother's side, I come from a matriarchal family. My Italian-Chilean grandfather and Ecuadorian grandmother gave the family a unique identity.
Each gathering nourishes our collective identity. We are the descendants of a family of fifteen children, the offspring of an Italian-Chilean grandfather and an Ecuadorian grandmother, woven together thanks to a strong matriarchal lineage.
The fifteen children always surrounded their grandmother, who was widowed at forty and traveled to New York, where she lived for a few years, learned to smoke, and returned with hilarious stories that delighted every family gathering.
At our dinner tables, the older cousins recount how their grandmother taught them to be friendly and charming. Amidst laughter, we share love stories, youthful pranks, and tales of first loves while enjoying the traditional dishes she cherished.
We meet monthly. At each gathering:
We remember the elders and their jokes. We recount their lessons, loves, and endings. Although they are no longer with us, they remain a part of our conversations and our meals.
We laugh at our own stories, such as jokes about cousins and childhood pranks that still make us feel young.
We enjoy family cooking, combining Italian and Ecuadorian recipes with our grandchildren's new ideas.
This ritual keeps us united. It makes us feel Grandma's presence and connects us with our genetic and emotional roots.
Families like ours are treasures because they bring lineage, customs, flavors, and stories that shape our identity. In these digital times, when so much has been lost, it's more important than ever to keep these traditions alive.
My real cousins, familiar photos¡