Why Colombians celebrate Christmas early.(News)

From: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) | Date: December 21, 2003| Author: | Copyright information

Byline: Veronica Gonzalez Daily Herald Staff Writer

For Colombian Carmen Berrio's family and friends, Christmas always starts well before Dec. 25.

Nine days before, to be exact.

It's 8 p.m. Dec. 16 in the living room of her Elgin split-level home.

Blue and green Christmas lights illuminate a small nativity scene pasture full of miniature cows, ducks, pigs and sheep.

Roughly 17 adults and 10 young children huddle around the four- level landscape topped by a ceramic manger with an empty crib, missing a baby Jesus figure.

They're here to celebrate the start ...

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