Can we go ahead and say it? The Christmas season is officially here. Retailers have been rolling it out since Halloween, so we might as well lean into it.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a Halloween guy myself \u2014 all year long, I keep a Halloween tree proudly displayed in my house. But that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t have room for Christmas. In fact, right now there\u2019s a Christmas tree set up right next to the Halloween one. Both are black, but that\u2019s beside the point. The real message is: take your joy wherever it finds you. If you want St. Patrick\u2019s Day in September, Valentine\u2019s Day in July, or Halloween every day (my personal favorite), I\u2019m here for it.<\/p>\n
Why Lubbock\u2019s Christmas Tamales Are the Best Holiday Tradition<\/p>\n
Still, even when celebrations can be year-round, some traditions hit harder in their proper season. You can enjoy Christmas lights in March, but you won\u2019t find Blue Bell Peppermint Ice Cream in the middle of July. And while you could wear a Santa hat to work on Easter, it might raise some eyebrows. Which brings me to one tradition Lubbock<\/a> should never overlook: homemade Christmas tamales.<\/p>\n Yes, tamales are available all year. But Christmas tamales \u2014 the real homemade ones \u2014 are on an entirely different level. Around here, you need one of two things to secure the good stuff: either a trusted \u201ctamale guy,\u201d or enough bravery to buy them out of a trunk or roadside setup. Personally, I\u2019ve got a \u201ctamale guy\u201d who always knows which Abuelita is doing her best work that year.<\/p>\n Tamale making is an art. A true balance. Bigger is not better. There\u2019s a perfect ratio of masa to meat, and when that balance tilts too far in either direction, the whole experience collapses. And while people argue endlessly about what belongs on a tamale, I\u2019ll keep it simple \u2014 give me a naked tamale with just enough grease to slide right on down. Perfection.<\/p>\n