“It’s a very important time for all the family emotionally – and is mainly focused on children,” said Nelvet.
Like many households who celebrate Christmas, they are decorating a tree and buying gifts for their children – which they’ll hide until December 25.
“As we lived in Colombia for several years, we have adopted some of those traditions too,” said Wisthon.
“On December 7 at sunset, the family will light candles to celebrate Día de las Velitas or Day of Candles – ‘to welcome Mary into our home’. We play ‘gaita’ music and sing songs celebrating the start of festivities.“
Gaita is traditional folk music and dance from Maracaibo, northwestern Venezuela, and dates back to the 1800s. It mixes African, indigenous and Spanish rhythms.
“We love Christmas. On December 21, we usually swap gifts with friends and family remembering the spirit of the season,” said Nelvet.
“We put up the ‘pesebre’ or nativity scene and on December 24 the children write a letter to baby Jesus.”
On Christmas Eve Valeria and Anthony will be allowed to stay up late – past midnight.
“We make ‘hallacas’ - a corn wrap with pork, chicken and beef, and vegetables and a Russian salad. I miss our food a lot, but I also want to try the pavlova,” said Nelvet.
Nelvet said it takes time to adjust to a new culture – and to start again.
In Venezuela, both parents had careers before they had to leave.
Wisthon was a high school teacher and Nelvet was an administrator at the same school.
“I didn’t know we had courage until we were in Colombia. We arrived with nothing and had no support. We learnt to sew and we made clothes to survive. We are safe here,” said Wisthon.
The local Red Cross settlement team’s Villa Higuita, who was also a former refugee from Colombia, and local volunteers Pearl and Linda have been helping the family to orient themselves – such as attending school and medical appointments.
“One of the things that makes it easier is the friendship they give us – and we’ve been very welcomed by Māori too,” said Nelvet.
Muaūpoko iwi welcomes former refugees to Horowhenua, including performing a blessing at every newly arrived family’s home.
The family - used to the hustle and bustle of large cities - find Levin quiet comparatively, but they’re happy to be in their new home.
Nelvet and Wisthon are already using the sewing skills they learned in Colombia to alter clothes for other people in the community with donated sewing machines.
This Christmas, Wisthon, Nelvet, Anthony and Valeria are over 12,500 kilometres away from family and friends, but their mobiles will be busy as they stay in touch with loved ones.
Wisthon is looking forward to celebrating New Year and has expectations for 2025.
“At midnight on December 31, I’ll eat 12 grapes – one for each month of 2025 and make a wish for each. I won’t tell you what they’ll be as I want them to come true – but we’re thinking positively and hope the children settle well.
“I’ll also put some lentils in my pocket – a tradition which means we’ll have abundance and cash.“
As with New Zealand and Venezuelan traditions, there’ll be hugs at midnight and dancing as they welcome in 2025.
Traditionally, the family would gather at the grandparents’ house on New Year’s Day.
This year, the family may catch up with other former refugees they met when they first arrived at Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre and who have also settled in Levin.
Anthony, 17, and Valeria, 11, have already enrolled at their schools and are taking extra English lessons currently.
They too have plans for the future too - Anthony wants to be a chef, and Valeria wants to be a doctor.
