Amy here.
I have a burning question that I thought maybe some of mom’s Cuban blog readers could answer.
Here’s the story:
My Cuban Abuela curses and blesses me.
The blessings go something like this:
"Algun dia tu nieta hara lo mismo por ti." ("One day your own granddaughter will do the same for you.")
That sounds like a blessing. . . right? She’s in effect saying that I will one day have grandchildren of my own. It makes me happy.
In the next breath (just after I beat her at cards the other night): And I’ll just paraphrase here . . .
"I didn’t want you to win because you know what they say about ‘lucky in cards, unlucky in love’ and I’d hate to see you end up an old maid. How old are you again? Maybe you should just start buying your cats now."
That sounds a little curse-like to me.
My question:
How much power do these Cuban-abuelita-curses/blessings have?
Just wondering if I have to go to church and light some candles or something. . .
I offer this: My nieta, who is 3 years old, and is very smart, with excellent instints, believes every thing I tell her, and she repeats my wisdom back to her parents as law. Definitely time to line up the candles. 🙂
Amy!!I really enjoy this post! Thanks for making me laugh! This brings back memories innate to growing up with “infused” Cuban culture.
They are blessings straight from your abuelita Luz!!! 🙂 Que Dios la bendiga!
“Algun dia tu nieta hara lo mismo por ti.” = simply stated is about “Karma”, or as the Spanish saying goes … “Cosechas lo que siembras” (“you reap what you sow”). . .
+++++
“I didn’t want you to win because you know what they say about ‘lucky in cards, unlucky in love’
Amy, as to this second remark, this is part of the “Tiki, tiki” … taken from the “old” (traditional)school … maybe it comes from “time you spend playing cards, it’s time you should spend looking for “love”! :)) But don’t worry … who said you could not be lucky in cards and also in love? Moreover, remind her that “Amy” means to be loved … so there … it’s evident in your name!
As the “piropo” goes in Spanish … it seems that you “eres un estuchito de oro” … ask your grandmother, I’m certain she’ll agree!
… and if pressure mounts … just tell her ” Abuelita, “es mejor estar sola que mal acompanada” … BUT … go ahead go to church and light some candles… maybe that’s where you’ll meet your soul mate :). . .
A word of advice, though . . . just make sure that when someone at home is sweeping, they keep the broom away from your feet … “hijita” … that would not be good porque “si te barren los pies no te casas” LOL!!! 🙂
I wish you well 🙂 Melek
“What an enormous magnifier is tradition! How a thing grows in the human memory and in the human imagination, when love, worship, and all that lies in the human heart, is there to encourage it.” ~ Thomas Carlyle
Amy,I personally don’t believe in any of that superstitious stuff. If I were you:
a) I’d buy a sage brush and give your home a thorough cleaning . . . just in case.
b) I’d buy several candles and go to all Catholic and Protestant churches in your neighborhood. . . just in case. Heck, I’d even go to the local synagogue and ask the rabbi for help.(Although I don’t know if they’ll let you in with candles). . . just in case.
c) I hear Hari Krishnas are cool about candles ~ give them a try also . . . just in case.
d) pray alot . . . just in case.
Otherwise, I just think most of this stuff are old wives’ tales . . . but, just in case.
Now, get to it, (por si acaso).
Ms. Calabaza
Sorry, I’ve no info on the cuban thing (my experience lies w/ the drunken Irish catholic subculture), but here’s what I think on another topic: yr posts are always funny & interesting & soooooo well written – you are the clever one! I’m wondering when you’ll finally step into William Wyler’s shoes & get intentional about adapting scripts & making movies for a living….. :>
ay…la nieta es tremenda igual que la abuela… I would say it skips a generation…but..humm no…