Celebrating with the family in the dining room

In Puebla, Mexican culture is expressed in multiple traditions, rituals and celebrations. Any commemorative date or social act, no matter how large or small, and at all socio-economic levels, has its own festival.

These celebrations include a range of ancestral practices, Catholic beliefs and colorful commemorations, such as saints' days, birthdays, academic or professional achievements and Christmas parties.

In celebrations carried out at home, the dining room is the chosen space, the place where the economic progress of the family is best reflected, since it is where you can show off things you have bought recently, whether it be furniture or tableware.

Splendor can truly be shown off on the table. Crockery arranged with different services, detailed glassware with cups and glasses, and cutlery for the different courses are all on display.

We also find table accessories such as bridges for cutlery, napkin rings, cruets for oil, vinegar and spices.

The table is also a space for decanters for wines and spirits, jars for plain water, for flavors or for pulque; toothpick holders, vases, whether tall or short, and finally serving dishes and platters for sandwiches and bread.

Parties are also an excellent means of creating communal living with relatives of different generations—whether close or far away—or for living together with friends, neighbors and co-workers.

In these celebrations, as well as enjoying the family celebrating together, there is always the meeting point with Puebla's rich gastronomy, with the festivities being the perfect reason for the chefs of the household to show off their culinary specialties.<br>

In these celebrations, the men are not left behind and can show off with their selection of wines and spirits, and there is no shortage of favorite soft drinks.

When you have the chance to see these photographs of these dining room festivities, you notice an atmosphere, whether of seriousness or joy, and generally of everyone looking closely at the camera.

These images show the special features of Puebla, reflected on the tables of Puebla, an example of the city's historical wealth.  

At the tables of yesteryear, it was common to accompany the food and to toast with pulque. Attention is drawn to the designated dining room with a corridor, a table and benches instead of chairs.

In this photograph, Amado Beltrán and his wife Celestina hold their little daughter, in the company of their family. This image was taken at the end of the meal. There are only empty Coca-Cola and Sidral Mundet bottles and plates left.

Here we can see a table prepared by the hostess to serve coffee or atole (drink) in pitchers. In the aluminum pan is the guiso (stew) that will be served later on the plates.

This photograph is from the celebration of the saint of Miguel Martínez López, my dad. Here, accompanied by my grandparents, uncles and cousins. Every year my mom made sure to get a new tablecloth and prepare her favorite meal. The soft drinks you can see are Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola.

Finally, we end with a dining room with a particular decorative style: still life with flowers and the Last Supper and modernist lamp. The table is covered with plastic to prevent the cloth from becoming dirty. The deep dishes and spoon imply that warm foods will be served.<br>