[THE BIKE OVEN COLLECTIVE FOLKS WILL BE THERE, TOO!]
On Sunday, January 6, 2008, bicyclists and motorists alike will take
to the streets to enjoy the eclectic and divine nacimientos of Los
Angeles's Eastside. This year's tour starts at the Los Angeles River
and Gardens Center, 570 W. Avenue 26, Los Angeles, 90065 at 11 am,
with registration opening at 10 am.. Highland Park's Bike Oven will
offer free tire checks and sag support. This year, the Charles
Lummis Home in Highland Park will be one of the many stops. The
Latino Urban Forum, The Rare Times, Wild Women on Wheels (w2ows),
C.I.C.L.E., Santa Monica Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, and the
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition are co-sponsors of the tour.
For the 8th year, the annual tour will highlight mini Bethlehems,
makeshift barns and stables, and in one setting, a complete living
room reenactment of Jesus' birth and the arrival of the three kings.
For many bicyclists, this is the first time exploring the
historically and ethnically rich neighborhoods of Highland Park,
Lincoln Heights, and Boyle Heights.
The Nacimiento Tour is one of those rare LA seconds when west-siders
and east-siders, Latino and non-Latino, come together and
participate in exploring LA's unique cultural traditions and
physical landscape in a environmentally friendly way.
Nacimientos, or nativity scenes, is a tradition that many Latino
throughout Latin America follow during the Christmas season. This
tradition takes place in the streets of LA where many immigrants and
multi-generational families spend countless hours creating
Nacimientos in their front yards, porches, on roofs, as well as in
the home.
Nacimientos range in size, complexity, and creativity. Some can be a
simple scene of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to elaborate landscapes with
tinsel aterfalls, sparkling lights, and hundreds of pieces. Each
Nacimiento reflects the creator's devotion to Christmas and can be
very personal in nature.
For many Latinos, the building of the sets begins the day after
December 12th, which is the feast day of Our lady of Guadalupe and
they stay up until January 6th, when the three kings arrive with
gifts for the new born king.
Listings and pictures of previous years' tours can be found on
http://www.theraret imes.com
The 2008 map will be available online and at the registration on the
day of the event.
For more information, please contact
Lupe Vela at 213-820-3680
lmvela@w2ows. org.