Local family shares how they celebrate culture and community
Dr. Juan Reina is a physician with Hilltop Obstetrics and Gynecology, with offices in West Chester, Middletown and Lebanon. Dr. Reina shared with us some of his holiday memories, both from his family heritage and from his years living here in Liberty Township.
“Both my wife Mariarosa and I came to the U.S. in 1999 from the country of Colombia in South America,” says Dr. Reina. “Although we share some holidays, some were new to us, like Thanksgiving. So we have adopted this tradition to share a special dinner with family and friends to celebrate friendship and bounty.”
Dr. Reina, his wife and their twin 13-year-old daughters focus on living a multicultural life. For instance, they take the opportunity to learn about a new country every year around Halloween so they can dress from that country’s traditions.
“Christmas is our favorite holiday, and carrying our cultural traditions from back home, we continue to host a Novena at our house every year,” says Dr. Reina. This is a special celebration during the 9 days (novena means ninth) before Christmas.
“Friends and family are invited to come and share a dish and read some biblical passages related to the nativity scene. We also sing Christmas carols, feast on the delicious communal dishes and dance to festive music,” says Dr. Reina.
Novena truly showcases the spirit of the season, with a gathering for each of nine nights, celebrated in a different household each night.
Happy Holidays from Dr. Reina and Hilltop Obstetrics and Gynecology!